Deuces Wild
(Bobbs-Merrill, 1913)
Forbes, a famous illustrator of books and magazines, is invited to an all-night poker game at his friend Jillson's place. He's a bit down, for he's run out of ideas and needs to keep up with the latest fashions. He's been trying to follow one elusive lady whom he's seen several times-- but to no avail. When he gets to Jillson's apartment building, the elevator boy gives him the wrong number, and he inadvertently stumbles upon a jewel thief at work. Like a true rogue, the thief is wearing a black mask-- and in evening dress. He binds and gags Forbes, and departs after rifling a safe. Strange, though. He entirely misses the wad of bills and a precious ruby, and only takes a Florentine box containing some old letters.
The owner of the burgled apartment is Mr. Mearson, an elderly clubman, who lives there with his charming daughter-- the mystery lady! The Mearsons were lured away on a false errand by the thief, while he entered their apartment and got into their safe. When they return, they find Forbes bound and gagged in a chair. He is released, but Miss Mearson disdains to call the police, as nothing of value was stolen. Does she possibly know the thief? Meanwhile, Forbes departs to his friend's poker game. But when his pal Crawford-- an archaeologist of worldwide repute-- deals the cards, he (Forbes) notices a cut on Crawford's hand. That cut is identical to the one which the safe-cracker had!
At the same time, Detective Haggerty of the Central Bureau has been trying to catch an elusive jewel thief of immense cunning, who's already robbed several of the wealthiest society people in New York. His trail leads him to the house of Crawford. Crawford has a big old mansion filled with Egyptian artifacts. When Haggerty gets there, Crawford's servant Mason lets him in, and the detective seats himself in the study to await Crawford. Now Crawford is still at the poker game. But is he in fact the thief of Mearson's apartment? Haggerty thinks so. He believes he has it all tied up. For one of Crawford's hobbies is buying old safe's and cracking them. But the case has a rather unexpected twist. And Haggerty will have all he can do to trace the crimes back to their true perpetrator.
This nice little crime/ mystery novel is often overlooked, but it's really quite a good piece of fiction which is worth getting. After reading and reviewing MacGrath's 1915 novel The Voice in the Fog, I find that to be a sequel to the present work. Detective Haggerty and Crawford both figure in the later story, but to reveal exactly how would give unnecessary spoilers. At any rate, this novel is actually a very good example of the "Rogue School" of crime fiction. The jewel thief is not some bum in black soot and panty-hose, but a gentleman who moves among the social elite. He has a pistol but only uses it to defend himself. The plot also has a moderate romantic undercurrents. As the first chapter states, "This is a story of two stories, separate yet inseparable." The romantic and crime elements dovetail together quite admirably. But it's the crime/ mystery ingredients which'll have the most interest to today's readers.
The Bobbs-Merrill hardcover is illustrated by R.N. Crosby. It is a slender volume of 144 pages-- somewhat shorter than your average novel. Although this original edition is a bit rare, a recent reprint by Kessinger Publishing (which includes the Crosby illustrations) is available through Amazon.com for $15. That's a pretty decent price to pay for a Gotham City crime outing-- ain't it? At any rate, it'll give you an hour or two of prime fireside entertainment. When you're done with this one, you'd better hunt up The Voice in the Fog, which continues the plot thread taken up by Detective Haggerty. Both volumes form a mini-masterpiece of the crime/ mystery genre which should be part of every collector's library. And that ends my encomium.
--B.A.S.
**************
