The Novelty Maker Read Online Free PDF Page A

bag was slung over her shoulder, and she had a pretty face.
                    "I asked if you're looking for Joe." She paused, then said in a sing-song, mocking voice, "Jo-si-ah. Joe."
                    "Yes," Cole said slowly. "What do you know of him?"
                    "He found another job. A private job." She grinned, flashing bright, even teeth at him. "You lookin' for a private courier?"
                    "No," Cole said, knowing he should walk away. He didn't, though, and Harlowe owed him for this even if Harlowe would be the first to say he should walk away, that it wasn't worth it. "I'm looking for Joe ."
                    "Well, I don't know where he is." The woman shrugged, leaning back against the wall.
                    "That's great," Cole said, deadpan. He started walking again, in no mood to play games, not even for Harlowe's sake.
                    "I could maybe find out," the woman called after him, and Cole called himself every kind of fool for stopping.
                    "Oh? And what would it cost me?" Cole asked, crossing his arms as he turned.
                    "Ten gold," the woman said, one corner of her mouth quirking up in acknowledgement of the outrageous sum of money.
                    Cole scoffed and reached into his pocket. Pulling out a gold coin, he tossed it to her. She jerked forward, catching it and for a moment looking surprised. Reaching into a different pocket, Cole pulled out his card case and pulled out one of his cards, which he stepped forward to hand to her. "Visit me there when you've found him, and I'll give you the remaining three gold coins."
                    The woman laughed, but took his card. "Sure thing."
                    Cole rolled his eyes, turning away from her and heading back down the street. Probably a waste of money, but who knew, perhaps she'd come up with something. It was better than going back to Harlowe with nothing and nowhere else to look.
                    Hesitating, Cole debated returning home and not going to see Harlowe. He didn't have anything to tell Harlowe about the letters, and Harlowe was probably busy, especially considering Bingley had pushed him into working on that last minute project at the last minute.
                    But Harlowe had been so upset the previous night, and Cole was feeling too unsettled to go home. If he went home, he'd just end up pacing or redecorating the sitting rooms or something ridiculous. He could go visit Dwight, but his mother was probably already managing Dwight's every move after his disaster with Miss Luxon.
                    He could stop by the sweets cart on Cliff Road and pick up something to raise Harlowe's spirits, Cole decided. That would give him something for Harlowe, since tracking down the special courier wasn't proving very fruitful. Decided, Cole abruptly changed directions, nearly running into a young woman carrying a parasol in an alarming shade of green before hurrying off on his self-appointed mission.
                    *~*~*
                    The shop was busy, as usual. Both shop girls were on the floor, and unfortunately, so was Bingley. Cole paused just inside the shop, glancing towards the door to the back room, which was firmly shut as usual. Cole headed that way, stifling a groan when Bingley left off fidgeting with a music box to intercept.
                    "A word, Master Elliot." Bingley stepped in front of the door to the back room before Cole could reach it, blocking his access. He didn't look particularly pleased to see Cole—the polite smile on his face looked more like a grimace than a smile. He was a small man; short, thin, with a moustache that made him look sleazy instead of the suaveness he likely thought it lent