The Call of Death, or Nick Carter's Clever Assistant Pt 5

In this episode of 'Forward into the Past', host JC Rede continues the Nick Carter mystery series with 'The Call of Death or Nick Carter's Clever Assistant', picking up at Chapter Five titled 'Patsy Turns Crook'. The story follows Patsy Garvin, Nick Carter's assistant, as he embarks on a dangerous undercover mission, involving a disguise and a cunning plan to infiltrate a bank-related scheme. Patsy observes Kate Crandall and her interaction with a notorious gangster named Turk McGill, who plans to kidnap Kate for a hidden quarter million dollars. Patsy, while keeping his true identity hidden, decides to play along with McGill's plot to get closer to the criminal operation, hoping to inform Nick Carter in time. The episode leaves listeners with a cliffhanger, wondering whether Patsy will manage to alert Nick Carter and what consequences his risky disguise and involvement may bring.

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Transcript

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Hello, once again, folks. And welcome to another fine episode of forward into the past. I am JC Rede, Your host and narrator. And today we're going to pick up exactly where we left off last time in the exciting Nick Carter mystery, the call of death or Nick Carter's clever assistant. And without any pomp or circumstance, we're going to pick up exactly where we left off with chapter five. Chapter five. Patsy turns crook. Patsy Garvin needed no instructions beyond those contained in Nick Carter's note. Nor additional information as to the position Kate Crandell had taken. It was plain enough to Patsy and he shaped his course accordingly. Knowing that the woman might incidentally have seen him from her window. And that she would recall him suspiciously if they met later. Patsy entered the corridor of a near building and put on a disguise, with which he was provided. It by no means improved him however, for it gave him a decidedly tough and hangdog appearance. It's good enough for the work to be done, he tersely soliloquized not anticipating how effectively it was to serve him. Returning to the street. Patsy found a concealment from which he could stealthily watch the door of the bank building, prepared to await the departure of Kate Crandell or size up any visitor she might receive. His vigil was not rewarded until five o'clock when Kate came out and walked quickly up the street. Gee, she's a peach all right. Thought Patsy sententiously, who until then had, had merely a glimpse at her through her office window. She evidently has quit work for the day and is heading for home. Patsy was right. He also inferred from the woman's darkly handsome face that she was not in an enviable frame of mind. He stealthily followed her out of the business district and to an attractive outskirt of the town. There just as she was turning a corner, a well-dressed man stepped from a near yard and spoke to her. Patsy saw her draw back as if confronted by a stranger. And then he saw the man's face and recognized him. Holy smoke. He muttered slinking back of a tree. This does settle it. That's Turk McGill. Gangster and all around bad egg, as sure as I'm a foot high, she just about employed him to get the gospel dispenser and no, by Jove she don't appear to know him. I must be wrong! Cautiously watching them. Patsy presently decided that he was right and that Kate Crandell was not acquainted with Turk McGill. She remained talking with them. Nevertheless, frowning, darkly, while likening to his earnest utterances. Yet, occasionally glancing apprehensively toward a house around the corner. Gee, he's got something on her, thought Patsy, after a few moments. That's dead, open and shut, or she wouldn't listen to him. She's doing so under protest, that's a cinch. Magill was a well-built florid man, a thousand times more prepossessing externally than within and Patsy quickly saw that the Rascals arguments, persuasion, or of whatever his talk consisted would not immediately prove effective. He saw too, that he could not directly approach the couple without incurring suspicion. But that he might hasten around the square and approach them through the other street, possibly getting a line on their talk by passing near them. Ah, it's worth trying. He said to himself, The woman at least cannot give me the slip. Patsy did not defer this move. Sheltered by the tree, then hiding him. He retraced his steps and darted through a near St. Presently rounding the square and sauntering toward the couple from the other direction. While he was still some 50 yards away. However, Kate Crandell abruptly left McGill and hastened to the dwelling at which she had been repeatedly glancing. Patsy rightly infer that it was where she boarded. He passed her just as she was entering the gate, noting that she looked pale and disturbed and had an ugly gleam in her black eyes. Patsy also saw that McGill was watching her from around the corner and knowing the utterly depraved and desperate character of the crook, he instantly adopted a ruse that he thought might prove profitable. And enable him to get a line on the game, McGill was playing. Though he heard Kate enter the house and closed the door. Patsy repeatedly glance back over his shoulder as if hit hard with her flashy style and personal beauty. Upon turning the corner and coming face to face with McGill. However, Patsy pretended to see him for the first time and realize that his own covert admiration of the woman had been detected. He grinned remarking rudely as if by way of explanation. Don't often see one, like her lucky for me, she went undercover. Why I've got a crook in my neck looking backward. McGill looked at him sharply. It was then that Patsy's hangdog disguise proved advantageous. McGill saw that he was not going to stop or so it appeared. And he said quickly, Wait a bit. Wait for what? Questioned Patsy pausing. McGill eyed him searchingly for several seconds. You'd wait for the skirt. Wouldn't ya? He asked with unmistakable significance. Patsy grinned again, expressively. Rather, he said. I'd wait for her till I had no leg to stand on. You might do worse pal. said McGill suggestively. You mean, I couldn't do better. Returned Patsy, but I'm not in the class with swell skirts, like her. Ah, she's not so swell. Isn't she. Patsy looks surprised and his eyes, took on a light well in keeping with his disguised countenance. He now shrewdly surmised that McGill had a use for him. That he had designs that he could not carry out alone and that he needed a Confederate, this suited Patsy to the letter. He added incredulously nevertheless, lest his inference and readiness might be suspected. That don't go down. There's nothing in it. Nothing for me. Think not? That's what. I can put you in a way to become very friendly with her, said McGill, with squinting scrutiny. You can. Patsy demanded. Surest thing, you know? But you'd have to take chances. McGill pointedly added. Chances eh? Chances cut no ice with me. I take the longest ever. Is that right? Asked McGill smiling. Try me and see. Said Patsy than abruptly. Say what's your game. You ain't stringing me along in this fashion for nothing. I'm trying to get your measure. McGill frankly admitted. Is that so. Patsy spoke with affected resentment. What do you want of it? How do you like it? As far as you've got. You look all right. McGill vouchsafed, dryly. Well, I ain't dolled up for anything. Patsy bluntly asserted. I'm just as you see me all on the surface take it or leave it. It's up to you. McGill was. Favorably impressed. And he waxed confidential. See here, pal. What's your name? He inquired. Jack Dolan. Said Patsy readily. D'ya hang out around here. Not so far away. I can't hoof it. What's your business. Chauffeur when I'm in on a job said Patsy at random. But he, again, shot luckily. I'm looking for one just now. But not looking too hard. Would you take a mighty soft one? McGill questioned. Would a duck swim. And take chances. Any you'll take, said Patsy, you can gamble on that. If I can gamble safely on it, McGill replied. I can put you on easy street and do it without much risk. You can eh? Believe me? I can. Say you cut loose then. Said Patsy drawing near. You don't need to beat around any more bushes. I'll go up against anything for coin, if there's enough of it or for that skirt. You start right in with the bridle off and hand out your dye stuff. You'll find me game, all right. McGill really thought so now, so well, had Patsy played his part. He laid his finger on Patsy's arm saying more impressively. Listen to me, Dolan. If you mean all you say I can put you in right to share in a barrel of money. It's not a case of crack a bank Or pull off any kind of a dangerous job. The coin is where it can be easily got, bearing one thing. Hmm. What's that? Forcing a certain party to say where it's hidden. The coin. Yeah. Who hid it? Nevermind who hid it dolan. McGill objected. Don't you get too inquisitive. The party who hid it had no legitimate claim on it. He stole it. Furthermore, he's dead. There will never be a kick from him. All we need to do in order to get to it. Is force a certain party to squeal. How much coin is there. Asked Patsy displaying a steadily increasing interest. A quarter million. Come again, say that just once more. A quarter million. I reckon I must have misunderstood. Say you ain't nutty are you? Questioned Patsy with a suspicious growl. Your dome ain't cracked, is it? Not a crack in it. McGill, earnestly assured him. I'm handing you straight goods. There's a quarter million that may be had for well Dolan for a mere bit o' chesty work. You wouldn't get in on it. Mind you. Only I cannot get word to the pals of mine and time to use them. I want a little help. For what. To take that skirt where she can be properly questioned. McGill said, pointedly. Take her where? Uh, to a house about three miles from here. What's a matter with a hack or a buzz wagon. Either would fit the bill said McGill. There's only one difficulty. What's that. The skirt says she won't go. McGill explained suggestively. Ah, oh, I see. Said Patsy with eyes dilating. You want to force her to go. That calls the turn. Answered McGill. She has agreed to meet me at the end of this street, just before dark to finish the spiel I was having with her. She wouldn't end it here for fear. She'd be seen from the house where she boards. I get ya. There are only a few scattered houses at the end of the street. And that's a direction I want to take her in. McGill added. Now if you're not a bird head, you can see how easy it can be done. Ya mean to kidnap her. Said Patsy quickly. Ah, that's the game. And you want me to help? If you've got the nerve. I've got nerve all right, declared Patsy. But, uh, what do I get for this job? Enough money to buy a corner lot on Broadway. McGill forcibly assured him. That's all I want of you too. And it's all the risk you have to take. When do I get the coin and how much. 10,000 bucks possibly more within 24 hours. After nailing the skirt? Exactly. I'm hooked said Patsy, as if abruptly deciding to accept the offer. Spiel off what you want done and I'll do it. Shake. Said McGill extending his hand. I thought I read your mug correctly. My name is Mike McGill sometimes called Turk McGill and you'll find me all right. And always on the level. Well, if that goes, Mr. McGill, I'm your meat for any kind of a job said Patsy., A quarter million, eh? Say I'm afraid. I'll wake up. Hang it I'd Wade through blood for that. What am I to do? We'll need a touring car. said McGill. I know a garage where I can swipe one. Ah, swiping, it might make trouble for us. Could you hire it? Sure. If I had a price. Said Patsy. Here's a, yeah, here's a $20 note. Will that be enough? Oh, more than enough! Take it then said, McGill. It shows you too, that, I mean, business. I'm wise to that, all right. Do your part Dolan, and you'll get a hundred bucks for every dime of that 20. McGill added impressively. You'll leave it to me. Patsy rejoined. That skirt is as good as on her way. Who is this gangster that wants the kidnapped Kate Crandell. And what exactly has Patsy gotten himself into? Can he send word to Nick Carter in time. Well, we'll find out in the next exciting episode of Nick Carter. Master detective. Hey gang. Thanks for listening. I hope you're enjoying these episodes. And if you are, why don't you go ahead and leave a review or follow me on Facebook, or if you like. You can always buy me a coffee on our website. Forward into the past podcast.com. Website again is forward into the past podcast.com. Follow the link to buy me a coffee. And you can either subscribe for a one-time deal or a monthly subscription. Hey, thanks again for listening folks. Keep sharing those stories. And be a good human. Bye for now.