human
Tom Flannery, said Bob, when he had returned from Wall Street,
gpt
I've struck the trail.
human
No, you hain't, Bob, not so quick as this?
gpt
Now, said he,
human
I want you, Tom, to look out for my business tonight. Get some kid to help you, and mind you see he does his work right.
gpt
What you goin' to do, Bob?
human
I'm going to lay round Wall Street till that Mortimer feller comes outer the bank.
gpt
What do you mean? You hain't goin' to knock him out, are you, Bob?
human
Shucks, Tom, you wouldn't make no kind of a detective. Of course I wouldn't do that. Why, that would spoil the whole game.
gpt
Well, then, what are you goin' to do?
human
Why, I'll do just as any detective would--follow him, of course.
gpt
Is that the way they do it, Bob?
human
Some of 'em do, when they have a case like this one.
gpt
This is a gosh fired hard one, ain't it, Bob?
human
Well, 'tain't no boy's play--not a case like this one.
gpt
So you're goin' to foller him? I wish I could go with you, Bob.
human
But, you see, you must sell papers. I'll want you to help me later, when I get the case well worked up.
gpt
It'll be too big for one detective then, I s'pose?
human
That's the idea, Tom. Then I'll call you in,
gpt
I wish 'twas all worked up, Bob, so you'd want to call me in now, as you call it. It'll be exciting, won't it?
human
Well, I should think it would, before we get through with it.
gpt
Say, Bob, will there be any fightin'?
human
Can't say that now--hain't got the case worked up enough to tell. 'Tain't professional to say too much about a case. None of the detectives does it, and why should I? That's what I want to know, Tom Flannery.
gpt
Well, you shouldn't, Bob, if the rest doesn't do it.
human
Of course not. It's no use to be a detective, unless the job is done right and professional. I believe in throwin' some style into anything like this. 'Tain't often, you know, Tom, when a feller gets a real genuine case like this one. Why, plenty er boys might make believe they had cases, but they'd be baby cases--only baby cases, Tom Flannery, when you'd compare 'em with this one--a real professional case.
gpt
I don't blame you for bein' proud, Bob, said Tom, admiringly.
human
I only wish I had such a case.
gpt
Why, you've got it now; you're on it with me, hain't you? Don't you be silly now, Tom. You'll get all you want before you get through with this case; an', when it's all published in the papers, your name will be printed with mine.
human
Gewhittaker! exclaimed Tom;
gpt
I didn't think of that before. Will our names really be printed, Bob?
human
Why, of course they will. Detectives' names are always printed, hain't they? You make me tired, Tom Flannery. I should think you'd know better. Don't make yourself so redickerlous by askin' any more questions like that. But just you tend to business, and you'll get all the glory you want--professional glory, too.
gpt
It'll beat jumpin' off the Brooklyn Bridge, won't it?
human
Well, if you ain't an idiot, Tom Flannery, I never saw one. To think of comparin' a detective with some fool that wants cheap notoriety like that! You just wait till you see your name in big letters in the papers along with mine. It'll be Bob Hunter and Tom Flannery.