“Bring that man in here,” he directed; and Brady slouched into the private office.
“Now then,” said the captain, “short and sweet’s the word for you. Think we don’t know you, eh? I suppose you’re not the man who advertised a set of parlor furniture by mail for fifty cents, and a yard of silk for a quarter, and a plan to save your gas bills for a dollar, and how to kill cockroaches for a dime?”
“That’s old,” growled the discomfited Brady.
“Why,” explained the police official, “he sent a toy set of furniture to investors, and a yard of sewing silk, told them to save their gas bills on a file, and advised them to get a board and a club and whack the roaches. Now, sharp and brisk. You’ve kidnapped this man’s charge. I’ll send two officers with you to your partner to give him up. Produce him, and you go free. Otherwise I’ll telegraph all over the country to find out your latest schemes, and lock you up for abduction and extortion in the meanwhile.”
“I’ve done my work for this old man,” blurted out Brady.
“Yes,” assented Blennerhassett, “and the price was to be five hundred dollars, not five thousand dollars. I’ll pay the five hundred.”
“All right,” muttered Brady, “I’ll give in.”
“And I’ll go with him to see that the boy is all right,” said Blennerhassett.
Brady was released later, for the old man returned to the police station within an hour. Harry Ashley, or Ernest Warren, as his real name was, came in his company.
There was a joyful meeting between Tom and his friend. It was made still more happy when Ernest was informed that the estate in which he was interested had been settled, and his share was some twenty thousand dollars.