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　real　nameit　often　〃worked〃　but　in　this　instance　the　name　was　not　forthcoming。　　Butler　was　too　shrewd。

〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　I　want　to　go　into　this；〃　said　the　old　man　solemnly。　　〃Certainly　not　if　there's　any　risk　of　the　thing　not　being　handled　in　the　right　way。　　There's　somethin'　I　want　to　find　out　aboutsomethin'　that　I　ought　to　know；　but　it's　a　very　private　matter　with　me；　and〃　He　paused　to　think　and　conjecture；　looking　at　Mr。　Martinson　the　while。　　The　latter　understood　his　peculiar　state　of　mind。　　He　had　seen　many　such　cases。

〃Let　me　say　right　here；　to　begin　with；　Mr。〃

〃Scanlon；〃　interpolated　Butler；　easily；　〃that's　as　good　a　name　as　any　if　you　want　to　use　one。　　I'm　keepin'　me　own　to　meself　for　the　present。〃

〃Scanlon；〃　continued　Martinson；　easily。　　〃I　really　don't　care　whether　it's　your　right　name　or　not。　　I　was　just　going　to　say　that　it　might　not　be　necessary　to　have　your　right　name　under　any　circumstances　it　all　depends　upon　what　you　want　to　know。　　But；　so　far　as　your　private　affairs　are　concerned；　they　are　as　safe　with　us；　as　if　you　had　never　told　them　to　any　one。　　Our　business　is　built　upon　confidence；　and　we　never　betray　it。　　We　wouldn't　dare。　　We　have　men　and　women　who　have　been　in　our　employ　for　over　thirty　years；　and　we　never　retire　any　one　except　for　cause；　and　we　don't　pick　people　who　are　likely　to　need　to　be　retired　for　cause。　　Mr。　Pinkerton　is　a　good　judge　of　men。　　There　are　others　here　who　consider　that　they　are。　We　handle　over　ten　thousand　separate　cases　in　all　parts　of　the　United　States　every　year。　　We　work　on　a　case　only　so　long　as　we　are　wanted。　　We　try　to　find　out　only　such　things　as　our　customers　want。　　We　do　not　pry　unnecessarily　into　anybody's　affairs。　　If　we　decide　that　we　cannot　find　out　what　you　want　to　know；　we　are　the　first　to　say　so。　　Many　cases　are　rejected　right　here　in　this　office　before　we　ever　begin。　　Yours　might　be　such　a　one。　　We　don't　want　cases　merely　for　the　sake　of　having　them；　and　we　are　frank　to　say　so。　　Some　matters　that　involve　public　policy；　or　some　form　of　small　persecution；　we　don't　touch　at　allwe　won't　be　a　party　to　them。　You　can　see　how　that　is。　　You　look　to　me　to　be　a　man　of　the　world。　I　hope　I　am　one。　　Does　it　strike　you　that　an　organization　like　ours　would　be　likely　to　betray　any　one's　confidence？〃　He　paused　and　looked　at　Butler　for　confirmation　of　what　he　had　just　said。

〃It　wouldn't　seem　likely；〃　said　the　latter；　〃that's　the　truth。　It's　not　aisy　to　bring　your　private　affairs　into　the　light　of　day；　though；〃　added　the　old　man；　sadly。

They　both　rested。

〃Well；〃　said　Butler；　finally；　〃you　look　to　me　to　be　all　right；　and　I'd　like　some　advice。　　Mind　ye；　I'm　willing　to　pay　for　it　well　enough；　and　it　isn't　anything　that'll　be　very　hard　to　find　out。　　I　want　to　know　whether　a　certain　man　where　I　live　is　goin'　with　a　certain　woman；　and　where。　　You　could　find　that　out　aisy　enough；　I　belavecouldn't　you？〃

〃Nothing　easier；〃　replied　Martinson。　　〃We　are　doing　it　all　the　time。　　Let　me　see　if　I　can　help　you　just　a　moment；　Mr。　Scanlon；　in　order　to　make　it　easier　for　you。　　It　is　very　plain　to　me　that　you　don't　care　to　tell　any　more　than　you　can　help；　and　we　don't　care　to　have　you　tell　any　more　than　we　absolutely　need。　　We　will　have　to　have　the　name　of　the　city；　of　course；　and　the　name　of　either　the　man　or　the　woman；　but　not　necessarily　both　of　them；　unless　you　want　to　help　us　in　that　way。　　Sometimes　if　you　give　us　the　name　of　one　partysay　the　man；　for　illustrationand　the　description　of　the　womanan　accurate　oneor　a　photograph；　we　can　tell　you　after　a　little　while　exactly　what　you　want　to　know。　　Of　course；　it's　always　better　if　we　have　full　information。　　You　suit　yourself　about　that。　　Tell　me　as　much　or　as　little　as　you　please；　and　I'll　guarantee　that　we　will　do　our　best　to　serve　you；　and　that　you　will　be　satisfied　afterward。〃

He　smiled　genially。

〃Well；　that　bein'　the　case；〃　said　Butler；　finally　taking　the　leap；　with　many　mental　reservations；　however；　〃I'll　be　plain　with　you。　My　name's　not　Scanlon。　　It's　Butler。　　I　live　in　Philadelphy。　　There's　a　man　there；　a　banker　by　the　name　of　CowperwoodFrank　A。　Cowperwood〃

〃Wait　a　moment；〃　said　Martinson；　drawing　an　ample　pad　out　of　his　pocket　and　producing　a　lead…pencil；　〃I　want　to　get　that。　　How　do　you　spell　it？〃

Butler　told　him。

〃Yes；　now　go　on。〃

〃He　has　a　place　in　Third　StreetFrank　A。　Cowperwoodany　one　can　show　you　where　it　is。　　He's　just　failed　there　recently。〃

〃Oh；　that's　the　man；〃　interpolated　Martinson。　　〃I've　heard　of　him。　He's　mixed　up　in　some　city　embezzlement　case　over　there。　　I　suppose　the　reason　you　didn't　go　to　our　Philadelphia　office　is　because　you　didn't　want　our　local　men　over　there　to　know　anything　about　it。　Isn't　that　it？〃

〃That's　the　man；　and　that's　the　reason；〃　said　Butler。　　〃I　don't　care　to　have　anything　of　this　known　in　Philadelphy。　　That's　why　I'm　here。　This　man　has　a　house　on　Girard　AvenueNineteen…thirty…seven。　　You　can　find　that　out；　too；　when　you　get　over　there。〃

〃Yes；〃　agreed　Mr。　Martinson。

〃Well；　it's　him　that　I　want　to　know　abouthimand　a　certain　woman；　or　girl；　rather。〃　　The　old　man　paused　and　winced　at　this　necessity　of　introducing　Aileen　into　the　case。　　He　could　scarcely　think　of　ithe　was　so　fond　of　her。　　He　had　been　so　proud　of　Aileen。　　A　dark；　smoldering　rage　burned　in　his　heart　against　Cowperwood。

〃A　relative　of　yourspossibly；　I　suppose；〃　remarked　Martinson；　tactfully。　　〃You　needn't　tell　me　any　morejust　give　me　a　description　if　you　wish。　　We　may　be　able　to　work　from　that。〃　　He　saw　quite　clearly　what　a　fine　old　citizen　in　his　way　he　was　dealing　with　here；　and　also　that　the　man　was　greatly　troubled。　　Butler's　heavy；　meditative　face　showed　it。　　〃You　can　be　quite　frank　with　me；　Mr。　Butler；〃　he　added；　〃I　think　I　understand。　　We　only　want　such　information　as　we　must　have　to　help　you；　nothing　more。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　old　man；　dourly。　　〃She　is　a　relative。　　She's　me　daughter；　in　fact。　　You　look　to　me　like　a　sensible；　honest　man。　I'm　her　father；　and　I　wouldn't　do　anything　for　the　world　to　harm　her。　　It's　tryin'　to　save　her　I　am。　　It's　him　I　want。〃　　He　suddenly　closed　one　big　fist　forcefully。

Martinson；　who　had　two　daughters　of　his　own；　observed　the　suggestive　movement。

〃I　understand　how　you　feel；　Mr。　Butler；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　am　a　father　myself。　　We'll　do　all　we　can　for　you。　　If　you　can　give　me　an　accurate　description　of　her；　or　let　one　of　my　men　see　her　at　your　house　or　office；　accidentally；　of　course；　I　think　we　can　tell　you　in　no　time　at　all　if　they　are　meeting　with　any　regularity。　That's　all　you　want　to　know；　is　itjust　that？〃

〃That's　all；〃　said　Butler；　solemnly。

〃Well；　that　oughtn't　to　take　any　time　at　all；　Mr。　Butlerthree　or　four　days　possibly；　if　we　have　any　lucka　week；　ten　days；　two　weeks。　　It　depends　on　how　long　you　want　us　to　shadow　him　in　case　there　is　no　evidence　the　first　few　days。〃

〃I　want　to　know；　however　long　it　takes；〃　replied　Butler；　bitterly。　〃I　want　to　know；　if　it　takes　a　month　or　two　months　or　three　to　find　out。　　I　want　to　know。〃　　The　old　man　got　up　as　he　said　this；　very　positive；　very　rugged。　　〃And　don't　send　me　men　that　haven't　sinse　lots　of　it；　plase。　　I　want　men　that　are　fathers；　if　you've　got　'emand　that　have　sinse　enough　to　hold　their　tonguesnot　b'ys。〃

〃I　understand；　Mr。　Butler；〃　Martinson　replied。　　〃Depend　on　it；　you'll　have　the　best　we　have；　and　you　can　trust　them。　　They'll　be　discreet。　　You　can　depend　on　that。　　The　way　I'll　do　will　be　to　assign　just　one　man　to　the　case　at　first；　some　one　you　can　see　for　yourself　whether　you　like　or　not。　　I'll　not　tell　him　anything。　You　can　talk　to　him。　　If　you　like　him；　tell　him；　and　he'll　do　the　rest。　　Then；　if　he　needs　any　more　help；　he　can　get　it。　　What　is　your　address？〃

Butler　gave　it　to　him。

〃And　there'll　be　no　talk　about　this？〃

〃None　whateverI　assure　you。〃

〃And　when'll　he　be　comin'　along？〃

〃To…morrow；　if　you　wish。　　I　have　a　man　I　could　send　to…night。　　He　isn't　here　now　or　I'd　have　him　talk　with　you。　　I'll　talk　to　him；　though；　and　make　everything　clear。　　You　needn't　worry　about　anything。　Your　daughter's　reputation　will　be　safe　in　his　hands。〃

〃Thank　you　kindly；〃　commented　Butler；　softening　the　least　bit　in　a　gingerly　way。　　〃I'm　much　obliged　to　you。　　I'll　take　it　as　a　great　favor；　and　pay　you　well。〃

〃Never　mind　about　that；　Mr。　　Butler；〃　replied　Martinson。　　〃You're　welcome　to　anything　this　concern　can　do　for　you　at　its　ordinary　rates。〃

He　showed　Butler　to　the　door；　and　the　old　man　went　out。　　He　was　feeling　very　depressed　over　thisvery　shabby。　　To　think　he　should　have　to　put　detectives　on　the　track　of　his　Aileen；　his　daughter！





Chapter　XXXVI




The　very　next　day　there　called　at　Butler's　office　a　long；　preternaturally　solemn　man　of　noticeable　height　and　angularity；　dark…haired；　dark…eyed；　sallow；　with　a　face　that　was　long　and　leathery；　and　particularly　hawk…like；　who　talked　with　Butler　for　over　an　hour　and　then　departed。　　That　evening　he　came　to　the　Butler　house　around　dinner…time；　and；　being　shown　into　Butler's　room；　was　given　a　look　at　Aileen　by　a　ruse。　　Butler　sent　for　her；　standing　in　the　doorway　just　far　enough　to　one　side　to　yield　a　good　view　of　her。　　The　detective　stood　behind　one　of　the　heavy　curtains　which　had　already　been　put　up　for　the　winter；　pretending　to　lo