The Pit-Prop Syndicate Freeman Wills Crofts (english novels for beginners TXT) đ
- Author: Freeman Wills Crofts
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âI say, Hilliard,â he exclaimed. âI wonder if there mightnât be another way out after allâ âa scheme for making them separate the faked and the genuine props? Do you know Leathamâ âCharlie Leatham of Ellerby, somewhere between Selby and Boughton? No? Well, he owns a group of mines in that district. Heâs as decent a soul as ever breathed, and is just rolling in money. Nowâ âhow would it do if we were to go to Charlie and tell him the whole thing, and ask him to approach these people to see if they would sell him a cargo of propsâ âan entire cargo. I should explain that he has a private wharf for lighters on one of those rivers up beyond Goole, but the approach is too shallow for a seagoing boat. Now, why shouldnât he tell these people about his wharf, saying he had heard the Girondin was shallow in the draught, and might get up? He would then say he would take an entire cargo on condition that he could have it at his own place and so save rail carriage from Ferriby. That would put the syndicate in a hole. They couldnât let any of the faked props out of their possession, and if they agreed to Leathamâs proposal theyâd have to separate out the faked props from the genuine, and keep the faked aboard. On their way back from Leathamâs they would have to call at Ferriby to put these faked ones ashore, and if we are not utter fools we should surely be able to get hold of them then. What do you think, Hilliard?â
Hilliard smote his thigh.
âBravo!â he cried with enthusiasm. âI think itâs just splendid. But is there any chance your friend would take a cargo? Itâs rather a large order, you know. What would it run into? Four or five thousand pounds?â
âWhy shouldnât he? He has to buy props anyway, and these are good props and they would be as cheap as any he could get elsewhere. Taking them at his own wharf would be good business. Besides, 7,000 props is not a big thing for a group of mines. There are a tremendous lot used.â
âThatâs true.â
âBut the syndicate may not agree,â Merriman went on. âAnd yet I think they will. It would look suspicious for them to refuse so good an offer.â
Hilliard nodded. Then a further idea seemed to strike him and he sat up suddenly.
âBut, Merriman, old man,â he exclaimed, âyouâve forgotten one thing. If they sent a cargo of that kind theyâd send only genuine props. They wouldnât risk the others.â
But Merriman was not cast down.
âI dare say youâre right,â he admitted, âbut we can easily prevent that. Suppose Leatham arranges for a cargo for some indefinite date ahead, then on the day after the Girondin leaves France he goes to Ferriby and says some other consignment has failed him, and could they let him have the next cargo? That would meet the case, wouldnât it?â
âBy Jove, Merriman, but youâre developing the detective instinct and no mistake! I think the schemeâs worth trying anyway. How can you get in touch with your friend?â
âIâll phone him now that we shall be over tomorrow to see him.â
Leatham was just leaving his office when Merrimanâs call reached him.
âDelighted to see you and meet your friend,â he answered. âBut couldnât you both come over now and stay the night? You would be a perfect godsend to me, for Hildaâs in London and I have the house to myself.â
Merriman thanked him, and later on the two friends took the 6:35 train to Ellerby. Leathamâs car was waiting for them at the station, and in a few minutes they had reached the mineownerâs house.
Charles Leatham was a man of about five-and-thirty, tall, broad, and of muscular build. He had a strong, clean-shaven face, a kindly though direct manner, and there was about him a suggestion of decision and efficiency which inspired the confidence of those with whom he came in contact.
âThis is very jolly,â he greeted them. âHow are you, old man? Glad to meet you, Hilliard. This is better than the lonely evening I was expecting.â
They went into dinner presently, but it was not until the meal was over and they were stretched in basket chairs on the terrace in the cool evening air that Merriman reverted to the subject which had brought them together.
âIâm afraid,â he began, âitâs only now when I am right up against it that I realise what appalling cheek we show in coming to you like this, and when you hear what we have in our minds, Iâm afraid you will think so too. As a matter of fact, weâve accidentally got hold of information that a criminal organisation of some kind is in operation. For various reasons our hands are tied about going to the police, so weâre trying to play the detectives ourselves, and now weâre up against a difficulty we donât see our way through. We thought if we could interest you sufficiently to induce you to join us, we might devise a scheme.â
Amazement had been growing on Leathamâs face while Merriman was speaking.
âSounds like the New Arabian Nights!â he exclaimed. âYouâre not by any chance pulling my leg?â
Merriman reassured him.
âThe thingâs really a bit serious,â he continued. âIf what we suspect is going on, the parties concerned wonât be squeamish about the means they adopt to keep their secret. I imagine theyâd have a short way with meddlers.â
Leathamâs expression of astonishment did not decrease, but âBy Jove!â was all he said.
âFor that reason we can only tell you about it in confidence.â
Merriman paused and glanced questioningly at the other, who nodded without replying.
âIt began when I was cycling from Bayonne to Bordeaux,â Merriman went on, and he told his host about his visit to the clearing, his voyage of discovery with Hilliard and what they had learned in France, their trip to Hull, the Ferriby depot and their adventures thereat,
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