Money in the Bank Read Online Free PDF Page A

Benedick, had done a nice bit of work. She was a slim girl of twenty-three, one of those alert, boyish-looking girls of whom one feels what jolly children they must have been. She had a demure mouth, with a whimsical twist to it, and eyes that looked as if they saw the humour of things. The first thought any male observer would have had about her—except Mr. Trumper, who naturally regarded such a position as a privilege—was that she seemed made for something better than sitting at a telephone saying "Yes, Mrs. Cork."
    Her employer, direct as always, came to the point with the decision of a machine-gun.
    "Miss Benedick. Cakebread. Pay him a month's wages, and see that he leaves to-day."
    Her words were so definite, her tone so resolute, that one might have supposed that the girl's only possible reply would have been another "Yes, Mrs. Cork." To that autocrat's astonishment, however, and to Mr. Trumper's shocked disapproval, Anne Benedick did not take her cue.
    “What!" she cried. " Why?"
    Mrs. Cork had once had a native bearer who, when given his orders for the day, had said "Why?" You can recognise him easily, if you happen to be in his village, by the dazed, stunned look which still lingers on his face and the way he has of jumping, if anyone speaks to him suddenly. That had been nearly ten years ago, and nobody had tried it since, amazement, accordingly, held her dumb for an instant, and before she could rally from the shock Dolly Molloy intervened.
    "I'll tell you why," she said vehemently. "I don't know who hired this darned Cakebread to haunt this house, nor what his charges were, but he's turning in a swell job. You can't go anywheres in the place without finding him floating around like ectoplasm. He's been in Mrs. Cork's room, he's been in Mr. Trumper's room, and he's been in my room, twice in two days. And what we kinda feel is that he'd best be shot out before he gets through with checking up on our stuff and deciding which of it to pack in his old kit bag and which is too heavy to lift."
    "Exactly," said Mrs. Cork. " Get rid of him at once."
    Anne Benedick's mouth twitched. One would have said that she was amused.
    "I'm afraid you can't get rid of him."
    Again, Mrs. Cork was conscious of a sense of shock.
    "Can't get rid of him?"
    "I'm afraid nor. I don't think you can have read the lease of the house carefully, or you would have noticed the clause about Cakebread. My uncle insisted on having it put in."
    "Clause? What clause?"
    "That in no circumstances is he to be dismissed from his position."
    "What!"
    "I'm afraid so."
    There was a silence. Then Mrs. Cork said she had never heard of such a thing, and Mr. Trumper said it was quite incredible. Mrs. Molloy did not speak. She seemed to be thinking.
    "It's annoying, of course."
    "Annoying!"
    "But Uncle George refused to let the place under any other conditions."
    Mrs. Molloy came out of her reverie.
    "Well, say, listen," she cried. "There's nothing in the book of the words to prevent Mrs. Cork having the bozo pinched and stowed away in the cooler, if he's a thief and gets caught with the goods?"
    "Yes, I suppose she could do that," said Anne. "But really, Mrs. Cork, you're quite mistaken about Cakebread. It's just that he has an enquiring mind."
    "Well, look," proceeded Mrs. Molloy. "Lemme tell you how you can swing it. Hire a detective, and have him watch the bimbo."
    She gazed at Mrs. Cork hopefully. Here, her agile mind had perceived, was one of those cases where a single stone may be utilised for the undoing of two birds. The sanctity of private property could be protected against any oompus-boompus, and at the same time she would have on the premises a trained ally, observing her Soapy's movements both in and out of rose gardens.
    Mrs. Cork's eyes lightened.
    "An admirable suggestion."
    "Admirable," agreed Mr. Trumper.
    "And I've got the very man for you," said Mrs. Molloy. "Sheringham Adair, of Halsey Court, Mayfair."
    "Mayfair," said Mr. Trumper,