§ 53
They came down to the question of practical plans, and Peter was
ready with suggestions. In the first place, Mr. Ackerman must give no
hint either to the police authorities or to Guffey that he was
dissatisfied with their efforts. He must simply provide for an interview
with Peter now and then, and he and Peter, quite privately, must take
certain steps to get Mr. Ackerman that protection which his importance
to the community made necessary. The first thing was to find out
whether or not there was a traitor in Mr. Ackerman's home, and for that
purpose there must be a spy, a first-class detective working in some
capacity or other. The only trouble was, there were so few detectives
you could trust; they were nearly all scoundrels, and if they weren't
scoundrels, it was because they didn't have sense enough to be — they
were boobs, and any Red could see thru them in five minutes.
"But I tell you," said Peter, "what I've thought. I've got a wife
that's a wonder, and just now while we were talking about it, I thought,
if I could only get Edythe in here for a few days, I'd find out
everything about all the people in your home, your relatives as well as
your servants."
"Is she a professional detective?" asked the banker.
"Why no, sir," said Peter. "She was an actress, her
name was Edythe Eustace; perhaps you might have heard
of her on the stage."
"No, I'm too busy for the theatre," said Mr. Ackerman.
"Of course," said Peter. "Well, I dunno whether she'd be willing
to do it; she don't like having me mix up with these Reds, and she's
been begging me to quit for a long time, and I'd just about promised her
I would. But if I tell her about your trouble maybe she might, just as a
favor."
But how could Peter's wife be introduced into the Ackerman
household without attracting suspicion? Peter raised this question,
pointing out that his wife was a person of too high a social class to
come as a servant. Mr. Ackerman added that he had nothing to do with
engaging his servants, any more than with engaging the bookkeepers in
his bank. It would look suspicious for him to make a suggestion to his
housekeeper. But finally he remarked that he had a niece who sometimes
came to visit him, and would come at once if requested, and would bring
Edythe Eustace as her maid. Peter was sure that Edythe would be able to
learn this part quickly, she had acted it many times on the stage, in
fact, it had been her favorite role. Mr. Ackerman promised to get word
to his niece, and have her meet Edythe at the Hotel de Soto that same
afternoon.
Then the old banker pledged his word most solemnly that he would
not whisper a hint about this matter except to his niece. Peter was most
urgent and emphatic; he specified that the police were not to be told,
that no member of the household was to be told, not even Mr. Ackerman's
private secretary. After Mr. Ackerman had had this duly impressed upon
him, he proceeded in turn to impress upon Peter the idea which he
considered of most importance in the world: "I don't want to be killed,
Gudge, I tell you I don't want to be killed!" And Peter solemnly
promised to make it his business to listen to all conversations of the
Reds in so far as they might bear upon Mr. Ackerman.
When he rose to take his departure, Mr. Ackerman slipped his
trembling fingers into the pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a crisp
and shiny note. He unfolded it, and Peter saw that it was a five hundred
dollar bill, fresh from the First National Bank of American City, of
which Mr. Ackerman was chairman of the board of directors. "Here's a
little present for you, Gudge," he said. "I want you to understand that
if you protect me from these villains, I'll see that you are well taken
care of. From now on I want you to be my man."
"Yes, sir," said Peter, "I'll be it, sir. I thank you very much,
sir." And he thrust the bill into his pocket, and bowed himself step by
step backwards toward the door. "You're forgetting your hat," said the
banker.
"Why, yes," said the trembling Peter, and he came forward again,
and got his hat from under the chair, and bowed himself backward again.
"And remember, Gudge," said the old man, "I don't
want to be killed! I don't want them to get me!"