Explore "Sinister House" by Fred M. White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"I am intrigued," Phasy cried. "I have never tried my hand yet at blackmail, but, as your admirable proverb says, 'adversity makes us acquainted with strange bedfellows.' Proceed, my honest and honourable friend, proceed."
"Well, it's like this," Beaucaire went on. "About three years ago, before we met, or rather before we went into a sort of partnership, I was looking for a handy man to do a little job for me--the sort of dirty work that one in my position could not undertake personally. In the course of my inquiries I came across a middle-aged sailor, whose name was Dutton. I never knew his Christian name, but when I tell you he was called Ratty you can understand the class of individual he was."