The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bones in London, by Edgar Wallace

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Bones in London

Author: Edgar Wallace

Release Date: December 13, 2008 [EBook #27525]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONES IN LONDON ***

Produced by Al Haines

BONES

IN LONDON

By

EDGAR WALLACE

WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED

LONDON AND MELBOURNE

1921

CONTENTS

CHAP.

I.--BONES AND BIG BUSINESS
II.--HIDDEN TREASURE
III.--BONES AND THE WHARFINGERS
IV.--THE PLOVER LIGHT CAR
V.--A CINEMA PICTURE
VI.--A DEAL IN JUTE
VII.--DETECTIVE BONES
VIII.--A COMPETENT JUDGE OF POETRY
IX.--THE LAMP THAT NEVER WENT OUT
X.--THE BRANCH LINE
XI.--A STUDENT OF MEN
XII.--BONES HITS BACK

BONES IN LONDON

CHAPTER I

BONES AND BIG BUSINESS

There was a slump in the shipping market, and men who were otherwise
decent citizens wailed for one hour of glorious war, when Kenyon Line
Deferred had stood at 88 1/2, and even so poor an organization as
Siddons Steam Packets Line had been marketable at 3 3/8.

Two bareheaded men came down the busy street, their hands thrust into
their trousers pockets, their sleek, well-oiled heads bent in dejection.

No word they spoke, keeping step with the stern precision of soldiers.
Together they wheeled through the open doors of the Commercial Trust
Building, together they left-turned into the elevator, and
simultaneously raised their heads to examine its roof, as though in its
panelled ceiling was concealed some Delphic oracle who would answer the
riddle which circumstances had set them.

They dropped their heads together and stood with sad eyes, regarding
the attendant's leisurely unlatching of the gate. They slipped forth
and walked in single file to a suite of offices inscribed "Pole
Brothers, Brokers," and, beneath, "The United Merchant Shippers'
Corporation," and passed through a door which, in addition to this
declaration, bore the footnote "Private."

Here the file divided, one going to one side of a vast pedestal desk
and one to the other. Still with their hands pushed deep into their
pockets, they s