"Avenger - 4303 - Calling Justice, INC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Avenger)

"Why, that . . . that's wonderful, Mr. Joplin!"

He beamed at her. "Ah! That's fine. Now here--" He produced a roll of bills from his pocket and
peeled off ten tens. "Here's a hundred dollars in advance. Take it!" He practically forced the money
into her hand.

"But . . . but what do I have to do to earn this, Mr. Joplin?"

"I'll tell you." He took the brief case off his knees and laid it on her lap. "I want you to
take charge of this evidence. When the bus stops at Daytona, I'm getting off. I have a bit of
business in Daytona--one more bit of evidence to get. It'll take me an hour or two, but
unfortunately the bus won't wait."

"I see," Nellie said demurely, fingering the money in one hand and touching the smooth leather
of the brief case with the other. It was not a large brief case--just comfortable enough to carry
under one arm. But it was rather heavy. And there was a small lock which kept the brass snapper
shut.

"It's locked, naturally," said Mr. Joplin. "Now listen carefully, Elsie. I want you to remain on
the bus when I leave you at Daytona. You go on to Miami. There, you will go to the Sunset Hotel and
register. Go up to your room and wait until you hear from me. I'll be there later in the day. When I
pick up the brief case I'll give you the other hundred dollars. Is that clear?"

"Yes," said Nellie. "It's clear."

If anyone had asked her she wouldn't have been able to say just why she was doing this. She
certainly wasn't doing it to help the self-styled "Mr. Joplin" out of a jam, because he was lying
from the word go. Nellie, herself, was on a vacation, and The Avenger had made her promise not to
stick her pretty little nose into anything that didn't concern her while she was resting in Florida.
But she'd never have been happy if she hadn't tried to solve this puzzle of why Mr. Joplin was being
hunted by the long-faced man in the green convertible.

"Then everything is settled," Mr. Joplin was saying heartily. "It's all arranged!" He patted her
arm. "Don't forget nowЛthe Sunset Hotel!"

"But Mr. Joplin, you don't know anything about me. How can you trust me with all this
evidence--"

He laughed that off with a wave of his hand. "My dear, I'm an excellent judge of human nature. I
would trust you with my life! Now listen carefully, Elsie. If anyone should approach you and ask if
you know me; if they should describe me--"

Nellie smiled. "I'd tell them nothing."

"Excellent, my dear girl, excellent! I see you are wise beyond your years. Perhaps I can give
you a permanent job later. Do this piece of work well, and perhaps I'll make you my secretary!"

"Wouldn't that be wonderful, Mr. Joplin!" Nellie murmured, veiling her eyes.