A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

32 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY brought out a small, folded, white sheet. In silence Gees looked down the list. Beside No. 13 he saw the names of Miss Cleo Kefra and Saleh ibn Nahor, personal attendant. He refolded the paper and handed it back. “Thank you,” he said. “No, it couldn’t be anyone here.” “Well, I’m much obliged to you, Mr. Green,’ Crampton said. “iJow do vou wish to make any more inquiries ?”’ Gees shook his head. ‘Not now, thanks,” he answered. ‘“If—f the busi- ness that’s interesting me just now should happen to cross any of your line, I know where to get in touch with you.” As he went on his way, he murmured to himself: “Saleh ibn Nahor—” Then he took out an envelope and pencil, and wrote the name down. Then he hailed a taxi to take him to Little Oakfield Street for tea with Miss Brandon. UT tea with Miss Brandon was not the peaceful function Gees antici- pated. He had just seated himself on the corner of her desk when the doorbell be- gan a peal that suggested a desire to run the battery down. Gees got on his feet. “T’ll go, Miss Brandon.” He went to the door and opened it. “Easy, man,” Gees admonished, ignoring the ominous expression on Tony Briggs’ face. “T want to know,” Tony began coldly, “Not here,” Gees interrupted. ‘Come inside.” In angry silence Tony followed him to his room. He pointed to the deep-seated, leather-upholstered chair. “JT don’t want to sit down,” Tony said stubbornly, “TI do,’ Gees observed, and did. ‘‘Now, go ahead.” “I want to know what you—” Tony paused to correct himself, and went on with meticulous care— ‘‘what was the idea of Miss Brandon, in obvious disguise, . masquerading in the entrance hall of Gravenor Mansions last night. Spying there, in fact. By your orders?” “Oh, the Parkoot business,’’ Gees said. “That missing kid. Yes. Wait a second— Vil get Miss Brandon herself along to explain.”” He pressed the buzzer on his _ desk, and offered his cigarette case. = Siu ese ot a ees 1.23 oO PRPLESEGFA STI TAS Is OKs aro easvawve Eom 17? “No! Not now!” said Tony savagely. Gees took one for himself. “Oh, Miss Brandon,” he said as she entered, “You've met Briggs. He wants to now what you mean by being at Gravenor Mansions last night. I’m just back from my talk with Crampton, and you’d better tell him how we’re interested in this case of the missing child—and the finding of the body out at Wimbledon, and all the rest of it.”” He gave her a long look. “T went to Gravenor Mansions last night, Mr. Briggs,’’ Miss Brandon said coolly, “and obtained some information about the missing child—long before it was connected with the Wimbledon tragedy—which Mr. Green was good enough to say was very useful. Is that all, Mr. Green?” Gees got on his feet. “You see, Tony? There’s no connection between Miss Brandon’s visit to the Gravenor and you or anyone you know there. Now what’s the trouble ?”’ “T—well—Miss Kefra recognized Miss Brandon, obviously disguised, last night—” Tony broke off. “And chalked another dark stroke against my already unattractive name,” Gees finished for him, ‘You ought to realize, Tony, that my agency goes in for all sorts of investigations. So there you are, Tony, blaming me for a sheer coincidence. Why?” “Miss Kefra thought—” Tony began, and stopped. “Supposing J started thinking?” Gees exclaimed with angry energy. ‘Supposing I alleged that one of Miss Kefra’s trunks, taken out of her flat last night by her man, had inside it the suitcase which held the body of that child— No, shut up, Tony! I’ve got just as much right to allege an absurdity like that as you have to come here and accuse me of setting Miss Brandon on to spy on Miss Kefra. Now you can either apologize and stay for a cup of tea, or get out.” “T apologize humbly to you both,” Tony said. “But I mustn’t stay now.” “Look here, Tony, what time do you go to her country place tomorrow ?”’ “By the same train she took today,” Tony said. “Cleo’s meeting me at Chelten- ham with her car, and Lady Benderneck is traveling down with me,” cbooks.com oo oe