SHERLOCK HOLMES once remarked: "By far, the most daring investigator and
most successful elucidator of criminal mysteries is Martin Dhragnet, but
unfortunately, he always gives you the impression of being HALF A ROGUE."
In less than two years' time this same Dhragnet, having had charge of the
famous case of THE INFAMOUS JOHN FRIEND in which THE DETHRONEMENT OF THE
CITY BOSS was a possibility, sold out his principal client, SIR HENDER
O'HALLORAN, V. C., THE MEMBER FOR ARCIS, and with two of the principals,
THE GREIFFENSTEINS, FATHER AND SON, he fled to THE REPUBLIC OF CHILI,
where they BEACHED KEELS, and on the following CHRISTMAS, with EMPTY
POCKETS, and being in need of MONEY to buy the THINGS required on
CHRISTMAS DAY, took a CHANCE by stealing THE GOLDEN DOG of THE PRESIDENT
OF QUEX: escaped capture, under the cover of one of those dark ARIZONA
NIGHTS, by crossing to BOLIVIA, where as ELECTRIC ARCS were in use on
dark nights, they were finally CAGED; but this is THE SECRET HISTORY OF
TO-DAY, and really digression.
Dhragnet finally escaped WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE, by gnawing a hole
through the WHITE PINE boards of his TINDERBOX prison, swam the OCEAN and
THE PANAMA CANAL, and with THREE MEN IN A BOAT, crossed the Atlantic to
FRANCE; retired to a secluded spot in BRITTANY: then travelled in CENTRAL
ASIA AND TIBET: played THE HONEST LAWYER, INSIDE THE GERMAN EMPIRE,
hobnobbed with KINGS AND QUEENS on the RIVIERA, and IN MONTE CARLO, met
AN AMERICAN GIRL, called the CAPTIVATING MARY CARSTAIRS, with whom he
became infatuated, as she had a bank account, and notwithstanding the
fact that all her friends said, "Oh: MARY MARY, you are sailing UNCHARTED
SEAS," she was CAUGHT IN THE NET, and they were MARRIED, and the bank
account disappeared, as Dhragnet was given A FREE HAND: after THE STORM,
THE BAD TIMES came; he then formed, secretly of course, THE ROBBERIES CO.
LTD., grew a beard, and drifted to ENGLAND; located in LONDON: formed the
firm of DOMBEY & SON, in Suite 813, NUMBER 101, PARK LANE, as purveyors
of wines and where every BRAND was on sale except the one you wanted.
Strange as it may seem, Dhragnet, alias Dombey, had given considerable
thought to THE DRINK PROBLEM IN MODERN LIFE, and to all appearances did
nothing more than play DOMINOES and EAT AND GROW THIN; however, he was
merely KEEPING UP APPEARANCES, for the rear room of this suite was the
rendezvous of MANY FAMOUS IMPOSTERS, HYPOCRITES AND SINNERS: THE SHORT
CUT to prison.