1
The Safety Pin
by J. S. Fletcher
(1924)
CONTENTS
I. THE THIRTEENTH CLIENT
II. WHAT ABOUT THE BED?
III. THE SAND PIT
IV. THE SAFETY PIN
V. THE PICTURE POSTCARD
VI. THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT
VII. THE CREVICED WALL
VIII. MISS PRETTY'S WAY
IX. BIRDS OF A FEATHER
X. TURN OF THE LADIES
XI. THE GOLD WATCH
XII. ARRESTED
XIII. STILL OPEN
XIV. WHICH GOLD MINE?
XV. THE UNCURTAINED WINDOW
XVI. DISCOVERIES AND AMBITIONS
XVII. THE WOOD AND THE ORCHARD
XVIII. GREEN EYES
XIX. THE MAN WHO GOT OUT
XX. COIL WITHIN COIL
XXI. BARTLETT'S HEARTHRUG
XXII. CHECKMATE
XXIII. MELLAPONT'S EXHIBIT
XXIV. THE ART OF ARRANGEMENT
XXV. THE GREEN BAY TREE
CHAPTER 1
- THE THIRTEENTH CLIENT
Shelmore, then three-and-twenty years old, had been in practice as a solicitor for precisely six months, and, probably because he had set up in his own native city of Southernstowe, the end of that period found him with exactly twelve clients on his roll. His line was the eminently safe one of conveyancing and the clients were profitable ones; he knew enough of his profession to know that his first half-year's experience was satisfactory and promising. Another fledgling, lower down the street, a former fellow-articled-clerk, admitted at the same time as himself, who had gone in for police-court practice, was doubtless having livelier times, but not making so much substantial gain; his office, perhaps, was more crowded, but Shelmore preferred the dignified quiet of his own,