Black Hearts, Black Spades by Frank Chandler

Author:Frank Chandler [Chandler, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The following morning Jacob was going through one of the catalogues with a customer when he was very surprised to see Lewis Denson walk into the shop as bold as brass. As bold as silver would be more appropriate, since the deputy was wearing his badge in a particularly visible way and making it clear he was on official business.

‘Excuse me for one moment, ma’am,’ Jacob said to the customer. Then, turning to the deputy, ‘Mr Denson, good morning to you sir, how may I be of service?’

‘I understand you had a fire on the premises last night.’

‘Nothing serious,’ Jacob replied. ‘Nothing we couldn’t handle with help from the neighbours. A simple accident.’

‘Oh, I heard it was started deliberately. So I need to investigate the cause. If there’s someone going round startin’ fires the sheriff needs to know. He’s mighty concerned about your business, you bein’ new an’ all.’

‘Well, Deputy, that’s real kind of the sheriff. Perhaps he’d like to look us up himself so I can tell him what happened. I don’t think it was deliberate.’

‘Well,’ said Denson. ‘Mr Martin wants to be sure everything is all right, him being particularly concerned about newcomers to Beckinson.’

Jacob smiled at the deputy.

‘It’s good to know so many people are concerned about us. You, Mr Martin, the sheriff – a powerful group of people. My sister and I have been made to feel very welcome here in Beckinson and I’m sure our business will continue to grow. As you can see we have a pleasing number of customers.’ He swept his hand in a wide gesture indicating the several ladies who were currently in the shop. ‘Perhaps Mr Martin would like to bring his wife in too. . . ?’

‘Mr Martin isn’t married,’ the deputy corrected at once.

‘Well, nevertheless, I’d be pleased to make his acquaintance. Maybe we could open an account for him, for yourself too, perhaps?’

The deputy narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like people who were too clever with words. Words tied people up worse than rope sometimes. But before he could say anything else Jacob continued:

‘So you can assure the sheriff, and Mr Martin, that the fire was of no consequence. Nothing has changed. And I thank you most profusely for your timely warning, without which things might have turned out rather differently.’

This last comment was a direct remark aimed at Denson, a speculative shot in the dark about the alleyway encounter. But it hit the mark, Denson’s eyes narrowed again and he turned to go.

‘It was the first and the last warning you’ll get,’ he said under his breath.

‘And good day to you, Deputy Denson,’ Jacob called after him. ‘Isn’t it reassuring to know that the town is in such safe hands,’ he said to the lady who had finally settled on a page in the catalogue.

‘This is the one I would like,’ she said to Jacob. ‘Do you have any material with a similar pattern?’

Jacob pulled a bolt off the shelf and unrolled a yard and a half for the lady to examine.

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