Herbert Allingham – Jorkins & Co (aka The Duffer, Detective)

Herbert Allingham was the writer of a number of short story series that Houdini attached his name with:

Jorkins & Co (Film Fun)
The Amazing Exploits of Houdini (The Kinema Comic)
Houdini’s Schooldays (Merry and Bright)

This week we explore the not widely known, Jorkins & Co.

According to Julia Jones (author of Fifty Years in the Fiction Factory), ‘Jorkins & Co’, was a short story series developed from The Duffer, Detective (True Blue, 1906), and ascribed in Film Fun to Houdini, the Handcuff King.

Below is Julia Jones summary, along with some Chapter I excerpts of The Duffer, Detective:

Summary

‘Holt [aka The “Duffer” or “Houdini”] of Emmanuel’ is no timid non-collegiate student but a young man with ‘a certain easy swagger in his walk’. He is however, short of cash (trouble with the trustees) so has summoned his old school friend, Arthur Merlin, down first-class from London in order to make use of Merlin’s L500 inheritance. Holt needs money to rescue an acquaintance called Jorkins, who has taken over his father’s jewellery shop in Clerkenwell and has subsequently disappeared. Merlin is not instantly enthusiastic.

Chapter I excerpts

‘Can’t you see that you are spoiling your life for the sake of a silly juggins who is probably in no trouble at all and who, even if he is, is not worth saving?’

‘Jorkins is my friend,’ replied Holt gravely.

Merlin sprang to his feet impatiently and walked nervously up and down the room.

‘Oh, of course,’ he cried irritably, ‘I know it’s no use arguing with you. Well what is the idiotic programme? Suppose I refuse to let you have a penny of my money?

Over the Duffer’s face came the charming smile which Merlin could never resist in the old days

‘In that improbable event,’ he replied, sweetly, ‘I should go to London and accept a situation as a clerk that has been offered to me at eighteen shillings a week, and in the evenings I should pursue my investigations.’

Merlin relents of course.

‘Oh Duffer,’ he cried,’ You are hopeless. Well we’ll have some fun and when our five hundred is spent we’ll go into the workhouse together.’

‘The workshouse! My dear Merlin, what an unpleasant suggestion! On the contrary when we have spent all our money we will earn some more. Really I begin to hope that my trustees will not relent. It would be rather fun to work for one’s living.’

‘Not much fun clerking on eighteen shillings a week, Merlin suggested.

Allingham’s young men gallop out of Cambridge, knocking over the university proctor and his ‘bulldogs’.

‘Forward Merlin!’ cried the Duffer. ‘There is no time to apologise now. I must write to the the good man from town.’ Dons and townsfolk try to block their exit but Merlin and the Duffer are saved by a crowd of undergraduates.

The next moment the gallant steed with its double burden was thundering down the lane.

It bore them across Parker’s Piece, in an out of the narrow streets beyond and then across the green that borders the River Cam.

They heard behind them a terrific uproar and it was clear that Town and Gown had come to blows but the pursuit was not continued.

‘It seems they’ve had enough of you, Duffer,’ said Merlin. ‘I fear your ‘Varsity career closes today.’

‘I fear so,’ admitted the Duffer, rather sadly. ‘It’s been a very happy time, but when duty calls one must not hesitate. Jorkins cries to us for help and he shall not cry in vain.’

While I have been unable to locate a copy of Film Fun’s “Jorkins & Co” (aka The Duffer, Detective) yet, I do have a copy of True Blue’s “The Duffer, Detective” (by David Pitt aka Herbert Allingham) which was 7 chapters: