The Baron Brings Home the Bacon by Curtiss T. Gardner

Book Details

Four stories about the insurance investigations of Bill ‘Baron Munchausen’ Tolliver. What’s more incredible, the investigations Tolliver finds himself in, or the tall tales he makes up that earned him the nickname ‘Baron Munchausen’?

The Baron Makes A Photo Finish (1944) – Bill Tolliver, Insurance Investigator, Comes Up Against Some Mighty High-Class Conniving Before He Finally Unearths a Girl’s Legacy!

The Baron Renders Road Service (1946) – Bill “Baron Munchausen” Tolliver gives a peevish policy holder his money’s worth by cleverly solving two murders!

The Baron Practices Malpractice (1946) – There’s no use telling “Baron Munchausen” Tolliver to make no bones of a case involving a dead girl and a phony claim!

The Baron Brings Home The Bacon (1946) – An Insurance Claims Investigator Takes Over in a One-man Clean-up When Murder Stalks!
Chapter I  – Invitation Refused
Chapter II  – Dead Man in the Factory
Chapter III  – In a Laundry Bag
Chapter IV  – In the Cavern

Very little is known about Curtiss Tarring Gardner. He was born in Maryland about 1898, he was a graduate of MIT and he lived in Tice, Florida. Gardner wrote fifteen Bill ‘Baron Munchausen’ Tolliver stories, primarily for G-Men Detective in the middle 1940s.

The Baron Brings Home the Bacon has 4 illustrations.

Files:

1. BaronBringsHomeBacon.epub

Excerpt: The Baron Brings Home The Bacon

Chapter I

Invitation Refused

BILL “BARON MUNCHAUSEN” TOLLIVER, claims investigator for the Imperial Casualty Insurance Company pushed an unruly lock of mouse-colored hair from his eyes as he bent over the pinball machine in the Live and Let Live Lunchroom.

He drew back the plunger deftly, released it with just the proper force, then grasped the sides of the machine, tilting it gently left, right, left, to guide the steel ball as it drifted down the board. All the lights blinked out suddenly. The word “Tilt” appeared.

“Baldy” Leigh stepped inside the door just in time to see it.

“You’re slipping. Baron,” he said, as his eyes twinkled. “Must have Mehary on your mind.”

The Baron grunted with disgust “It’s half an hour past quitting time already and I’m tired,” he grumbled. “I’m not even going up to the office again this evening.”

“That’s what you think.” Baldy chuckled. “I just came down. Mehary wants you up there right away.”

Neither the Baron nor Baldy noticed the quiet, neatly dressed man who came up behind them. The man’s eyes, set too close together in a pale, hard face, were on the Baron.

“You can let this Mehary jump in the lake, Tolliver,” he said, not too loud.

Both the Baron and Baldy turned. The Baron did not recognize the speaker.

“Gladly,” he said, then added, “Why are you interested?”

“A pal of mine is anxious to renew his old acquaintance with you,” the stranger said. “Let’s get going.” His tone was quiet, but conveyed a hint of menace.

Baldy’s mouth dropped open. The Baron’s sharp black eyes flamed. He didn’t like the man’s looks or his manner.

“Sorry, brother,” he said coldly, “but my social engagement book is all filled. Some other time maybe.”

The man edged between Baldy and the Baron. His pallid face darkened. One hand slipped into his coat pocket. The Baron saw a bulge there and he didn’t need to be told what caused it.

“You heard me!” The man’s tone was more threatening. “I said, ‘Let’s get going.’ My pal doesn’t appreciate waiting.”

Baldy had backed up against the pinball machine. The Baron knew that his friend had not seen that telltale bulge in the stranger’s pocket. Nothing would be gained by exposing Baldy to possible injury.

He bit back the whiplash reply ready on his lips, even forced an unconvincing grin to his lean, sharp features.

“Since this appears to be a pressing social call, I guess I’d better make it,” he said “Be seeing you, Baldy.”

AS HE stepped out of the lunchroom with the stranger behind him, the Baron’s brows were grooved with a speculative frown. Was this a fast one on the part of the boys? If so, what did they hope to get by it?

The man at his back gave him no time to wonder.

“See that black sedan across the alley?” he said. “Head for it, chum!”

The doubt of a moment before vanished as the Baron saw the car. This was no practical joke. Two faces peered through the side window of the sedan toward him. One of them the Baron recognized. “Benny the Butcher.” A local boy with a reputation as a “rubout artist.” The other man was unknown to the Baron, but the company he was keeping spoke for itself.

The Baron’s stomach felt suddenly uncertain. He could feel moisture gather on his forehead. Without any idea of what this was all about, he knew he was in one of the worst spots of his life. These men intended to take him for a ride, and return transportation would not be provided.

Excerpt From: Curtiss T. Gardner. “The Baron Brings Home the Bacon.”