BLACKMAIL

Falcon was talking over a case with Keri. He had been hired by Miss Lori Longstreet. She is to be married to a very wealthy man named James Hillsman on the 14th of this month.

Only there is a very cunning and evil man named Jack Roper. He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into his power. We must find a way to fight him. Because he has pictures of Lori that could stop the wedding. She wants me to talk to him to see if he would lower the high price he is asking for the pictures.

Keri said:" Surely you could turn him over to the law?" "Technically no doubt but practically not. What would she profit to get him months imprisonment if her own ruin immediately follows. His victims dare not hit back. We must find other ways to fight him. He is to meet with me sometime today.

At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle out side. A minute later he was in the room. Jack was a man of fifty, short and on the heavy side. He took off his coat and laid it across the back of the chair and took a seat. Now lets proceed to business. Has Miss Longstreet empowered you to accept my terms?

"What are your terms?" Asked Falcon.
"I want eighty thousand dollars"
And the alternative ?
My dear friend, if the money is not paid on the 14th there certainly will not be a marriage on the 18th. Jack then turned and walked out of the house.

Falcon sat motionless by the fire. You could see the wheels turning in his head. Then he jumped up. Saying: " I know what I am going to do. "

I am going to disguise myself as one of Roper dogs. He then went in to the kitchen. When he returned. He was all black. O Keri we need to get more shoe polish. Then he vanished into the night.

A few days later he returned. Keri I know Roper's house as well as my own.
I am going to brake into his house. Keri said: Falcon you have never broke the law before. What if you are caught? That is the risk I have to take.
There is no other possible way of getting these pictures.

Keri said:

"What do you mean? The risk you have to take? I am going with you. "

Falcon though for a minute. Then said: " No you are not. It could be dangerous. Keri then said: You take one foot out that door without me. I am calling the police and telling them of your plan." Falcon said: "All right we could share a cell together if we are caught. "

“I don't mind confessing to you that I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal. ' See here as he took out a neat little leather case out of the drawer, and opened it. There a number of shining instruments. This is a first class, up to date burgling kit, with nickel plated jemmy, diamond tipped glass cutter, adaptable keys.

Now we need a flashlight.

Rubber soled tennis shoes.

And we need a mask?
Keri said; I can make a couple out of black silk.

We will have something to eat then leave at midnight. We will drive just a quarter of a mile from Roper place and walk the rest of the way.

Roper is a heavy sleeper, and retires punctually at ten thirty. With any luck we should be back here by two with Lori pictures in my pocket..

The pictures are in a safe. This is the tricky part. The safe is in a study next to his bedroom.

He has a beast of a dog that guards the grounds very night. But I had a talk with him, and he does not like the way his master treats him. So he is going to let us in without any trouble.

With our black silk face coverings, We stole up to the silent gloomy house.

The place was locked but Falcon removed a circle of glass and turned the key from the inside. An instant later he had closed the door behind us, and we had become felons in the eyes of the law.

Falcon seized my paw in the darkness and led me through the house. Falcon very gently opened a door and something rushed out at us and my heart sprang into my mouth, but I could have laughed when I realized that it was the cat.

Then Falcon crept to the door of the study and stood with slanting head listening intently. No sound came from Roper. The light from the fireplace gave off enough light to see by. Meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise to secure our retreat through the outer door, so I examined it. To my amazement it was not locked or bolted.

I touched Falcon and showed him the door. He whispered putting his lips to my ear. I don't like it. Anyhow we have no time to lose.

Keri stand by the door. If you hear anyone come, bolt it on the inside and we can get away as we came. If they come the other way we can get through the door if our job is done, or hide behind these window curtains if it is not. Do you understand?

I nodded and stood by the door. I had the feeling of adventure. Far from feeling guilty. I rejoiced and exulted in our danger.

I watched Falcon laid out his tools. After a hour I heard a click and the safe door swung open, inside there were a number of paper packets, each tied, sealed. I saw Falcon pick one out. Suddenly I saw him halt, listen intently and then in an instant he had swung the door of the safe to stuffed his tools into his pockets, and darted behind the window curtain motioning me to do the same.

Then I heard the thud of heavy footsteps rapidly approaching the study.

It was Roper. He never was in his bed.

He turned on the lights and leaned far back in the red leather chair, his legs outstretched a long black cigar projecting from his mouth. It looked like no speedy departure in his comfortable attitude.

I felt Falcon touch my paw, as to say that the situation was within his powers

I was not that sure from what I was seeing. The door of the safe was partly closed and at any moment Roper would see that. Several times I had observed that Roper looked at his watch and once he had risen and sat down again, with a gesture of impatience. The idea of him having appointment at a strange hour never occurred to me. Then I heard a gentle tape at the outer door. Roper rose and opened it. "Well said he curtly, you are nearly half hour late." So this was the explanation of the unlocked door. In front of him stood a tall slim dark woman, a veil over her face. Her body was shivering with strong emotion.

Now lets get down to business. You say that you have five letters which compromise the Countess Dveer. You want to sell them. I want to buy them So far so good. It only remains to fix a price. I should want to inspect the letters, of course. If they are really good. GREAT heavens, is it you? The woman without a word raised her veil. " It is I" she said, the woman whose life you have ruined." I couldn't pay. So you sent the letters to my husband and broke his heart and died. Yes!! You never thought to see me here again, but it was that night which taught me how I could meet you face to face and alone.

Roper said: You can't bully me. Leave the room as you came and I will say no more."

You will ruin no more lives as you have ruined mine. She had drawn a little revolver and emptied barrel after barrel into Ropers body. He shrank away and then fell backward on to the floor.

The woman looked at him and ground her heel into his upturned face. Then was gone like the wind.

No action on our part would have saved him. Falcon with swift, silent steps was at the door. He turned the key in the lock. At the same instant we heard voices in the house and sound of hurrying feet. the shots had roused the household. With perfect coolness Falcon slipped across to the safe, filled his two paws with bundles of letters and packages and poured them all into the fire. Again and again he did it until the safe was empty. Someone turned the handle and beating on the door. Then he drew the key from the outer door, and we left. Falcon knowing the grounds perfectly. We ran with me close at his heels, and pursuer panting behind us. It was a six foot wall which barred our path, but he sprang to the top and over. As I did the same I felt the hand of the man behind me grab at my ankle, but I kicked myself free and after running two miles before Falcon at last halted and with absolute silence behind us. We were free.

We were having breakfast and in walked Detective Peter Maple. He thought that if Falcon was not to busy. That he could help him with a case, which only happened last night.

"Dear me!? said Falcon. "What was that" A murder a most dramatic and remarkable murder. Falcon said: Sorry old man but Keri and I were just leaving to work on a new case of our own.

After Peter had left. Falcon showed me in the paper a picture of celebrities. there was the woman. It was the wife of a great statesman that had killed Roper.