The Iron Grip Read Online

The Iron Grip

The Iron Grip

by

Edgar Wallace

    I. THE MAN FROM 'DOWN UNDER'    

    II. THE WILFUL MISS COLEBROOK

    III. THE TYRANT OF THE HOUSE

    IV. THE KIDNAPPED TYPIST

    V. THE VLAKFONTAIN DIAMOND

    VI. A QUESTION OF HOURS

    VII. THE STRANGE CASE OF ANITA BRADE

    VIII. THE DISAPPEARING LADY

    IX. THE CASE OF AN HEIRESS

    X. THE BEAUTIFUL MISS M'GREGGOR

    Captain Jack Bryce, inscribed in the family records as John Richard Plantagenet, but better known amongst his intimate friends as Wireless Bryce, had dropped his army title, for he had discovered that it prejudiced rather than helped his chance of securing employment. It was as plain Mr. Bryce that he was ushered into the private office of Hemmer & Hemmer, and Mr. James Hemmer, the senior partner of that eminent firm of lawyers, received him. James Hemmer was an elderly man with dark, shrewd eyes, who surveyed his visitor with a brief but searching scrutiny, and seemed to Jack to be classifying him for future reference.

    "Sit down, Mr. Bryce," said the lawyer, taking up the card again. "You called in reference to employment, I believe?"

    "Yes, sir," said Jack.

    "You are not a lawyer, of course?"

    Jack shook his head. "No, sir. I am going to be perfectly frank with you. I have tried throughout the city for the past two months to get employment, but without success. I'm not suggesting that people turn me down because I'm a demobilized officer, but I do say that work is much harder to get than I ever dreamt would be the case before I left the army."

    Mr. Hemmer nodded sympathetically.

    "I should like to help you, Mr. Bryce," he said. "I knew your father well many years ago; but, candidly, the only question is your fitness for the work I have to offer. Do you understand anything about book-keeping?"

    "No, sir," replied Jack, "I'm afraid I don't."

    Mr. Hemmer looked over the fine figure of the young man with evident approval, but he shook his head.

    "It is rather terrible that a splendid specimen of a man like you cannot find employment," he said. "You stand nearly six feet, don't you?"

    "Just under," smiled Jack, "and I'm fighting fit. But that doesn't help me any. I am constantly being told that brains, not brawn, is requisite; and, although I'm not a fool, I somehow haven't been able to fit myself into the jobs which have been offered me."

    Mr.