Newspapers / The Alleghany News and … / Sept. 18, 1947, edition 1 / Page 7
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CHAPTER I The tall, young-faced man stepped out of the elevator on the thirteenth floor of the build ing on lower Fifth Avenue and mctved along the hall-way with an array of paper-wrapped pack ages stacked up to his chin. Balancing the stack ef bundles, he bent his knees until his hand was on a level With the doorknob and his chin was opposite the gold lettering on the frosted glass of the door. In heat, fine print were kthe words: Moe Martin, Literary rAgent. Beneath this, in bold and elegant style, there appeared: Johnny Saxori, Private Investi gator. I Never Sleep. ■&> Johnny Saxon managed to get the doorknob turned and then he kicked the door open with his toe. He staggered into the office and hurried toward a table and let the bundles fall in a heap. His bright, warm gaze touched the man seated behind the desk near by. “Hi, uncle,” Johnny Saxon grin » ned. Moe Martin looked up from the manuscript he’d been reading. He removed heavy rimmed glasses and placed them carefully to one side, and his tired, bloodshot eyes stared first at all the bundles, then at tall Johnny Saxon. “Something tells me,’*- Moe Martin said worriedly, “that we are going to be broke again.” He frowned. “What have you been buying now?” “Clothes,” said Johnny Saxon. “I also got you some shirts and neckties and socks. You are bad ly in need of them, sweetheart. All you need now is a new suit.” “I’ve got a suit.” “Yes,” agreed Johnny. “You have a suit” Moe watched as Johnny Saxon started unwrapping all the pack ages. He stood up and came around the big flat-topped desk He was of medium height, wide set, with a large chest and a fringe of dark, wiry hair that cir cled his partially bald head like a halo. Moe Martin had round, sad features that continually looked worried about somethihg. "I didn’t know you haci any money,” said Moe. “I haven’t,” said Johnny Sax on. “Then how the devil were you able to, buy—” “1 charged them, pappy. I’ve also -made arrangements about your new suit. That is, you have an appointment in half an hour.” “What am I going to use for money?” “We’ll charge that, too,” said Johnny. “I’ve picked you out a fine tweed that is a splendid buy.” Moe groaned and went back and sat down beside the desk. He pushed the thick manuscript aside. “Just why,” he asked sadly, “must you do things like this, Johnny? We haven’t had a case in a month. After that Benson case you bought a new car in stead of putting something aside. Now we’re back to eating ham burgers again. And yet, you should spend money—” Johnny was grinning. He indi cated the bundles and also (the fine gabardine suit that he was wearing. He asked /casually, “Pappy, have you ever heard of the Martin Smiths?” “I’ve heard of a whole lot of Smiths. I’ve got some friends named Smith. But—” “I mean the Hardware Smiths,” said Johnny Saxon. “They’re the ones who have hardware stores all over the country. There’s an other one they call Hamburger Smith. He owns an immense res taurant chain. And I think one of the uncles is in the oil business. That one is called Gas-Station Smith. I’ve looked them up, baby, and they’re rated at over eighty million.” Moe nodded. “Oh, those Smiths,” he said. “It must be very pleasant to have all that money. Dispersal Sale Of The Laurel Hill . f t , . i Registered Hereford Herd OWNED BY Dr. H. B. Perry, of Boone Sale Will Be Held At The Farm 4 Miles-West of Boone, N. C. On Friday, Sept. 26 At 1:00 P. M. Sale Consists of 30 COWS, some with calves at side. 20 HEIFERS, bred and open. 10 BULLS. This herd was established about 15 years ago and 1 of the beat bloodlines to be found in the for catalogue, write Sometimes I wish . . .rf “Well,” Johnny was saying, “we have just been retained by them." “I was telling someone just the other day—” Moe Martin stopped abruptly. He stared at his part ner. “What did you say?” “I said we have just been re tained by them, that’s what I said. I have been asked to act as a personal bodyguard to a member of that family. Some body named Irene Smith. We’re going to make a lot of money.” Moe continued to stare. * Johnny picked up one of the neckties from a box, arranged a knot in front of his collar. “How’s this?” Moe Martin said, ‘It’s very nice.” — absently, and then he said, “Who is this Irene Smith?” “It’s a fine tie,” remarked John ny. “It cost three dollars.” “Good earth!” “I told you, we’re going to make a great deal of money,” said johnny patiently. “We were going to make a lot of money on that Dulcy Dickens case, too,” Moe Martin pointed out. “And so what hapepned? We were left stranded in that ritzy Palace-Towers hotel and we couldn’t even pay the room rent.” “That was different, pappy.” Johnny Saxon’3 eyes were bright. He came over to the desk and punched his finger into his stocky partner’s arm. “It was really the Dulcy Dickens case that gave us the break on this one. These Smith people read about it in the papers. They heard, too, that I used to be a writer. And so they said that’s just what they want ed—a private detective who used to be a writer.” “Why?” “Because this woman — Irene Smith — was attempting to write a novel or something just before she lost her memory. And so the Smiths figure that with someone like me around, talking writing and stuff, continually reminding her of these things with which she used to be familiar; it might help bring back her memory. Then she can tell what actually happened.” Moe looked up at the ceiling for a while, and then in a still, quiet voice he asked, “When do we start out on this assignment Johnny?” “I told them we’d be out there at Northport tomorrow morning.” “Oh,” returned Moe. “And just what is this Irene Smith like? Has she ever sold anything?” “You would think of that,” said Johnny. He shrugged. “I’ve never seen her in my life. But if she’s like most of those would-be novel ists, she has probably got buck teeth. Some rich old dame who thinks she can write ficHon. I’ve met the type before. In the end they lay out a couple thousand dollars to have some vanity pub lisher put their stuff in print.” “You say she lost her mem ory?” “Yes,” Johnny said, “amnesia. Loss of memory. It happened a bout two weeks ago. I recall read ing something about it in the pa pers. She disappeared, Irene I Smith did, and the family has been looking all over for her. Now she’s found, and so that’s why they want me as a body guard. They’re afraid something might happen to her.” "Why are they afraid?” “Because of what happened to Irene’s husband.” “What was that?” “He was murdered,” said John ny. The day was Saturday. In the distance a sailboat mo ved languidly across Long Is land Sound, urged along by a slight breeze. The sleek-looking craft was etched against the bot tleneck entrance to Northport harbor, like something painted on a blue backdrop. Within the fine, , ■ ft Sitit CONTEST 3 GRAND PHIZES: 1. ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP I 2. VACATION M R10I S. HOLIDAY IN HAWAMI 635 OTHtR IHRIUINO nUZIS (indwding 10 fendfat land-locked harbor,- small boats and assorted sizes of yachts and other sailboats drifted lazily at anchor. Curving along one shore of the harbor was a wide stretcn of beach. The » sand looked very white and very clean against the blue back-ground of' clear sky and water. Along the stretch of smooth white sand the boy and girl were racing. The girl had flaming red hair that curved off her slim shoulders and was wind-stvept by the mo tion of her flying, slim legs. She wore a one-piece white swim suit, and though her firm, trim fig ure was nicely built, you could tell that she was quite young. She had unusual green eyes. Johnny Saxon had stopped his roadster on the landscaped road way of the estate and had been watching the girl running along the sand. Because of the angle at which he was looking through the trees, he saw only the girl at first, the sleek white bathing suit molding her fine figure. A mo ment later the fellow swept into view the boy was chasing the girl. Johnny sighed and put the car in speed again and they followed the winding road through the vast estate. A few moments later they drew up before the house. Moe Martin said, “We must have made a mistake,” He kept looking at the huge house, pop eyed. The house was of Vermont granite. Johnny Saxon guessed that it ihust have, contained at least thirty rooms. If he got the opportunity he would count them and fSid out. Johnny switched off the mo-> tor and sat there taking in the magnificence of the estate. A shaded patio flanked one end of the house; beyond this, there was a lawn terrace spotted with mo dernistic metal tables and bright ly colored awnings. The terrace led down to a long swimming pool, whose sides were tinted sea green, so that the water in the pool looked like clear green creme de menthe. ,“I still think it’s some kind of hotel,” said Moe. He climbed out, unlocked the trunk compartment in the rear of the car and started reaching inside for one of the bags. A bruptly, somewhere behind him, there came a very deep-throated barking. Moe turned around—and froze in horror. The animal that was galloping toward him had all the charcteristc of a dog, hut on a much larger scale. It was like no kind of dog that Moe Martin had ever seen. , “Holy cow!” Mfoe wailed, and scrambled back into the car. Johnny Saxon reached past his terrified partner and patted the dog’s huge head. “Hello, boy,” he said fondly. Moe squeezed back against the seat cushions, his e^es batting wildly. “What . . .what is it?” He stammered. “A Great Dane,” explained Johnny Saxon, “They’re fine dogs. They’re very gentle.” “How do you know?” Moe’s teeth were chattering. ' “iMell, that’s what everyone tells you.” The girl’s pleasant voice said. “He won’t bite you.” And then she said, “Michael; Get down, boy!” , The Great Dane jumped down from the car and nuzzled his big, sad face against the girl’s trim figure. The girl was the one johnny Saxon had seen running along the beach. He saw that he had not been mistaken in his distant impression of her. She was a lovely, fine girl with beautiful red hair and green eyes, and now she was wearing white sandals and a beach robe thrown around her slim, shapely figure. He climbed out of the car and said, “I have a \ letter here—” He started to reach inside his pocket. “Are you Johnny Saxon?” He nodded. He liked the sound of her voice. (To be continued) Turkey marketings this year are expected to be earlier than usual and the proportion to be marketed before November is even larger than the record pro portion dyring that period last year. Cherry Lane News Singing will be Held at Liberty Knob church each Saturday night at 7:30 p. m. Miss Vena Miles spent Wed nesday night with Thelma Ly ons. Mr. and Mrs. Clayt Bennett and family visited friends at Sparta, Sunday. Miss Jean Crouse spent Sun day with Miss Gaynell Truitt, in Sparta. Mr. and Mrs. P. A. McKnight visited relatives ,at Thurmond, i Sunday. • Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Blrf'sln had as their Sunday guests; Mn and Mrs.' Oscar Richardson. Mr. and. Mrs. J- T. Miles; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Miles and children also Miss Betty Ann Miles were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Earn Hanks, of Roaring Gap, re cently. Mr. Jessie McQoin has improve ed from a recent illness. The average cost of the United States farm poultry ration in mid July was $4.20 per 100 pounds, compared with $3.94 a year agn. family and friends to attend a free showing of an outstanding and educational about dair Petersen of Minnes ROUGHT YOU BY YOUR SURGE SERVICE DEALE To be shown at Sparta Courthouse, September 23, 7:3ft F. M> . Wilson’s Feed Store > Boone, N. C. • MEMO TO ADVERTISERS ■ ' 1 1 Newspaper advertising 1. Make your advertising copy easy to read, friendly and informative. People read news’ papers for the news. Give them facts and news about your merchandise and services. 2, Advertise regularly. Do what successful sales men do—call cn customers and prospects con sistently. j • 9. Protect your advertising investment by insist ing on audited circulation reports that tell you Just what circulation you get for your money. Guesswork is wasteful.* •In order that you may know just what you get for your money when you adver tise in this inewspaper, we are members of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. This is a national, cooperative association of 9 more than 2000 publishers, advertisers and advertising, agencies. Organized m 1914, the purpose of the Bureau is to - establish and maintain definite stand ards of circulation, audit the circula tion rectirds of the publisher member* and report this verified information to advertisers. Annually, one of the Bureau’s largo staff of trained auditors makes a thor ough audit of our circulation. The verified facts and figures thus obtained are issued in an official A.B.C. report. Our A.B.C. report tells how much cir culation we have, where the circulation goes, how it was obtained, how much people pay for it and many other facta that you should know when you buy newspaper advertising. Thus when yoa advertise in this newspaper your invest ment is in Jcnowa and verified valuta. H t ‘ ■ -r' • ■ *. ; .„ ® " ' l ^ i;'vnE •V ■*■ &;.V "J"-' - ■'! •* , ^ Hie Alleghany News *J J£ ■&£ ■1a. >« mmkmr oftlu Audit Bmrmm •fGhmlmim Alt M •**•/«* butt A. 1C rtfrrtgMmg muKtti Mm ttti figitrtt ttktttf 0nr etnultHui, \v--> . .A,’'‘ ;v'i-V» * ' ■' '■. v 'A - '■ AA A.S. C.»MJplT »UMAU OF CMCUU.TIONS-FACTS AS A MEASURE OF "St jfefrA'Ti " 3B5
The Alleghany News and Star-Times (Sparta, N.C.)
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Sept. 18, 1947, edition 1
7
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