Dutch Fred changed his seat to one less conspicuous and farther up the
tramcar. He felt that his luck was dead out, that life was a blank. And
that Heldon Foyle of all men should have chosen that particular moment
to board that particular tramcar had, as Fred would have expressed it,
"absolutely put the lid on." Fred knew very well how to circumvent the
precaution taken by order of the police that public vehicles should have
the back of the seats filled in to prevent pocket-picking. Instead of
sitting behind a victim, one sat by his side, with a "stall" behind to
pass the plunder to. A "dip" of class--and Dutch Fred was an
acknowledged master--never keeps his plunder on him for a single second
longer than necessary. But with Foyle on the car it was too expensive to
operate, especially single-handed. Therefore, Fred felt the world a
dreary place.
He had boarded the car alone and without thought of plunder. Had it been
in professional hours, he would have had at least one "stall"--perhaps
two--with him. As chance would have it, a portly business man, with a
massive gold chain spanning his ample waist, had seated himself next the
operator. And Fred had decided that the watch on the end of the cable
was worth risking an experiment upon. Besides, the appearance of
prosperity of the "mug" spoke of a possible "leather" stuffed with
banknotes. Decidedly, even in the absence of a "stall," it was worth
chancing. And then Foyle got on and spoilt it all. If any one on the
tramcar lost anything he would know who to blame.
For Heldon Foyle had spoiled one of the greatest coups that ever a crook
had been on the verge of bringing off. Fred, immaculately clad, and with
irreproachable references, had approached Greenfields, the Bond Street
jewellers, with a formula for manufacturing gold. He had discovered the
philosopher's stone. "Of course, I don't want you to go into this until
I've proved that it can actually be done," he said airily. "See there. I
made that handful of gold-dust myself. You test it, and see that it's
all right. Now, I'll sell you the secret of making that for £100,000. I
don't want the money till I've given you a demonstration."
So an arrangement was fixed up. The jewellers, with a faith that long
experience had not destroyed, believed in Fred. Nevertheless, they took
the precaution of calling in Foyle, then unknown to Fred save by name.
In a little room in Clerkenwell the experiment took place. With
ingenious candour, Fred prepared a crucible in front of his select
audience after the various ingredients had been submitted to strict
examination. Then he placed it on the fire, and stirred the contents
occasionally. At last the process was finished, and at the bottom of the
crucible was found a teaspoonful of undoubted gold-dust. Then, while
Fred, with a broad smile of satisfaction, awaited comment, the
detective, who had noted the strange fact that he had kept his gloves on
while stirring the crucible, stepped up to him and deftly whipped one
off. In the fingers were traces of gold-dust--enough to convict Fred
and get him three years at the Old Bailey.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Fred watched the detective presently
stand up and pass along the deck of the car towards him. The operator's
face was bland, and he smiled with the consciousness of one who has
nothing to hide as the superintendent sat down beside him.
"Hello, Mr. Foyle! I am glad to see you," he said, with a heartiness
that he knew did not deceive the other. "It's a long time since we met."
The detective returned the greeting with a cheerfulness that was
entirely unassumed.
"It's a piece of luck meeting you, Freddy," he went on. "But there, I
always was lucky. You're just the man in the wide world I've been
wanting to see."
"What's on?" growled Freddy, with quick suspicion.
"Oh, you're all right," the detective reassured him. "I want you to help
me. Let's get off at the next stopping-place and have a drink."
His fears allayed, Freddy followed the detective off the car. They were
professional enemies, it was true, but as a rule their relations were
amicable. It was policy on both sides.
In the saloon bar of an adjacent public-house, Freddy unburdened himself
fully and frankly while he sipped the mixed vermuth.
"I'm glad you struck me--on my word I am," he said earnestly, while his
active wits were wondering what the detective wanted. "That bloke was
carrying a red clock, and, though I was going for it, I had a feeling I
should get into trouble. If you'd been a minute or two later,
you'd----"
"Why talk of these unpleasant things, Freddy?" said Foyle, with a
deprecatory wave of the hand. "You know how I'd hate to have to do
anything to disturb your peace of mind." He drew him to a secluded
corner of the lounge. "Come over here. Now, listen. Do you know
Goldenburg or any of his pals?"
Freddy started a little, and looked meditatively at the tips of his
well-polished boots.
"The chap that did in Grell. I knew him a bit," he said cautiously. "He
was in a different line, you know. Mostly works alone, too. I can't say
that I know much about him. There's Charlie Eden, he was in with him
once--I guess he's in town. And Red Ike, he knew him, too. Perhaps
there's some more of the boys who had some does with him. But he always
was a bit above us common crooks. I only went for big game once,"--his
gaze lingered on Foyle's ring,--"and then it didn't come off."
"Never mind about Eden. You keep your eyes skinned for Red Ike, or any
one else that knew Harry, and give me the office. It'll be worth your
while. You can come to me if you're hard up. Have a shot at ---- and
---- and ----" He named several public-houses which are known rendezvous
for crooks of all classes. "You see what you can pick up. And if ever
you're in trouble, you'll know the wife and kid will be looked after."
Freddy grinned cynically to hide a real appreciation. He knew that Foyle
would do as he said. And in the criminal profession, however big the
makings, there is very rarely anything like thrift. For a man who at any
time might find himself doing five years, it was something to know that
those left outside were in no danger of the workhouse. For even "crooks"
have human instincts at times.
"That's all right, Mr. Foyle," said Freddy. "What you say goes. Who'll I
ask for if you're not at your office?"
"You can talk to Mr. Green."
"Right oh."
Freddy swung out into the dusk, whistling, for he had an assignment with
his "stalls" outside one of the big theatres. Foyle waited a few moments
to let him get clear, and himself stepped into the street.
To the surprise and disgust of the rest of the "mob," Freddy early
relinquished the evening's expedition, although his deft fingers had
captured no more than a silver watch (hung deceptively on a gold chain,
which he had left hanging), a woman's purse containing fifteen shillings
in silver, and a pocket-book inside which were half-a-dozen letters. It
was a poor hand, and Micky O'Brady, who was one of the "stalls," frankly
expressed his disgust.
"What's the use of chucking it at this time o' night? It ain't nine
o'clock yet. There's the lifts at the Tube that we haven't worked for
weeks. 'Struth; what did you want to fetch us out for at all? The stuff
you've got won't buy drinks."
Freddy's lower jaw jutted out dangerously. He was a small man, but he
had a hair-trigger temper. He always made a point to be unquestioned
boss of his gang. Discipline had to be maintained at all costs.
"See here, Micky," he said tensely. "I've had enough to-night, and I'm
going to give it a rest. So you'd better shut your face. I'm the man
who's got the say, so here. You just bite on that."
Micky, an Irish Cockney who had never been nearer Ireland than a
professional visit to the Isle of Man, clenched his fists with an oath.
He was a recent ally, and had not fully learned his position in Freddy's
scheme of things. In just two minutes, he was sitting gasping on the
pavement, trying to regain his wits after a tremendous punch in the
solar plexus, while his fellow "stall" was explaining to a constable
that it was all an accident, and Freddy had quietly melted away in the
direction of the Tube station.
The pickpocket never strained his luck, wherein he differed from the
lower grade professors of his art. Common sense and superstition were
both factors in his decision to suspend operations. He might as well
spend his time, he decided, in trying to carry out Foyle's instructions.
His intention took him to three public-houses as far apart as Islington,
Blackfriars, and Whitechapel; at the latter place, in an ornate saloon
bristling with gilt and glittering with mirrors, he found the man he
wanted.
Leaning across the bar, exchanging sallies with a giggling barmaid, was
a lean, sallow-complexioned man, whose rusty, reddish brown hair was
sufficient justification for his nickname.
"Hello, Ike," said the newcomer, adjusting himself to a high stool.
"How's things?"
"Hello, Dutch. Thought you got stuck the other side of the town. What
are you going to have?"
Over the drinks they talked for a little on a variety of subjects--the
weather, politics, trade--while the barmaid remained within hearing.
Both were craftsmen in their particular line, and they spoke as equal to
equal. Ike had made a specialty of getting cheque signatures for a
little clique of clever forgers, and had his own ways of getting rid of
his confederates' ingenuity. Nor was he above working side-lines if they
promised profit, and in that respect, at least, he resembled Dutch Fred.
His abilities in many directions had been recognised by Harry
Goldenburg. It was not till they had gone over to a little table in a
remote corner that Dutch Fred broached Goldenburg's name, in a tentative
reference to the murder in Grosvenor Gardens.
"Funny thing you should speak about that," commented Ike, glancing
casually about to make certain that no one was within earshot. "I hear
that there's piles of stuff in that house, and there's only a butler and
a man named Lomont, who was Grell's secretary, living there now to look
after things. It would be easy to do a bust there."
Fred's pulses jumped a little faster as he toyed with his glass. He knew
something of Red Ike's methods, and felt certain that some proposal was
coming. He could see the gratitude of Foyle taking some tangible form if
he were able to bring this off. He had no scruples. Even if Ike
suspected treachery after the event--well, he could look after himself.
"I don't know," he said, shaking his head doubtfully. "It isn't like a
lonely suburban street."
Ike grinned.
"I'm not a mug, am I? What do you say to walking in the front door,
opening it with a key, and with the keys of the rest of the house in my
'sky'? All I want is a straight man to keep doggo."
"Criminy! Have you got the twirls?" he gasped. "Where did you get 'em?"
"Never mind where they came from. I've got 'em. That's enough. More than
that, I've got a lay-out of the house all marked out on paper, with
every bit of stuff marked out where it ought to be. It's as easy as
falling off a log."
"Am I in it?" demanded Freddy.
"Why should I be telling you if you wasn't? You keep doggo outside if
you like."
More drinks were ordered, and Freddy came to business.
"What do I get?"
Ike let his chin rest meditatively on his slim fingers.
"Let's see. I cut in for a third, and I shall do all the work. I'll give
you a quarter of that third. You won't have anything to do, except give
me the office if anything goes wrong."
"'Struth!" Freddy was more hurt than indignant. "You aren't going to Jew
me down like that. Who else is in it?"
"Never mind who else is in it. I give you first chance, as a pal. You
can take it or leave it."
"Right, I'm on," agreed Freddy.