CHAPTER 1DEVOTED as he was to classic literature, Mr. Amos Clackworthy spent much time in his luxurious Sheridan Road apartment gathering various and sundry stray bits of information which could be turned into ammunition for future attacks upon idle and surplus wealth. His reading diet included the careful perusal of the daily newspapers. He was now engaged with the want ad columns as James Early, nearly always disgruntled in the master confidence man’s moments of reflection, sat by the window, hoping that another adventure was not far off. The Early Bird was genuinely happy only upon those occasions when Mr. Clackworthy was engaged in the always interesting business of annexing easy money.
“Boss,” complained the impatient James, “you make a guy feel like he was sittin’ in the public libr
