Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

76 doctor. Say, we’re just like brothers. Two awful confidential guys, you know. He tells me just everything——” Miss Simpson’s excitement bounded high- er. She grew restless and acted as if she wanted to rise and flee from the room. She also looked hard into Jonesy’s face as if she would have given much to draw out in- formation without asking for it. “Why, I can not imagine whom you mean,’ floundered Miss Simpson. “I ‘couldn’t imagine who——” “Don’t bother the imagination,’ said Jonesy. ‘‘He’s comin’ up to see me—just to call, you know—and you can see then with your own little eyes. Say, I’m goin’ to kid the life out of him. You just keep still an’ we’ll have some fun. I'll spring it . all—all the stuff that he told me—an’ with you standin’ right there——” “Oh, you wouldn’t—I mean—I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Jones. I have no gentlemen admirers.” ‘‘No admirers? Now, Miss Simpson, you can’t tell me that any young woman with a face like yours has no admirers. That is impossible.” “Impossible nothing. Don’t I know. I detest men so naturally my very presence seems to make them all mad.” ‘‘Aw, goon,” snorted Jonesy. “Iam not given to flattery, Miss Simpson, but I'll say this: there is a certain strange element about you which should put every mad man in a good humor. You see I’ve been around a bit myself.” ‘‘When did you say he was coming—that doctor friend?’”? Miss Simpson asked as if she had almost forgotten 20 SENOS very’ important. “Oh, any time,” replied Jonesy. “TI rather look for him today or tomorrow. He will be coming frequently, however.” Miss Evans was passing down the hall. *Miss Simpson called to her and they held a low conversation just outside the door. “No, ma’am! You stay right here until I give you further instructions,” Jonesy heard Miss Evans say. He groaned and turned over on his other side. Miss Simpson came back into the room looking much worried.. Repeatedly she questioned him about the mutual friend he had mentioned but he refused to divulge further facts. He pretended to sleep. It was necessary to keep her still so he could plan his next move. Adventure €: AT ONE o’clock Miss Simpson % poured some medicine into a glass. Jonesy saw his chance. “Got to have a pitcher of fresh water "fore I down that,” he said sleepily. As soon as she had left the room with the pitcher Jonesy dragged himself from the bed. Deliberately he poured out the medi- cine she had carefully measured into the glass and in its place he put a like amount of carbolic acid from a bottle on the dresser. He had barely settled in bed again before he heard Miss Simpson coming down the hall. Wrinkling her nose she looked around the room quizzically. Then she poured a little water into his medicine-glass and hand- ed the dose to the patient. “‘Golly Ned, what’s this?”’ yelped Jonesy, sniffing furiously at the mixture. ‘“‘Carbolic acid—that’s what itis. What you tryin’ to do, you old hen—tryin’ to poison me?” “It’s a mistake—it’s be “Don’t make any difference what it is. Ring the bell now, quick. I want an ex- planation from a different authority. No, you don’t get it away from meeither. This is my evidence.” It was not necessary to ring the bell. Miss Evans who was in the next room heard his complaints and hurried to his bed. ‘“‘You’re in on this, too, woman. I’m goin’ to sue the hospital. You framed it up together. You’re tryin’ to murder me.” He allowed Miss Evans to take the glass... She smelled it and looked horrified at Miss Simpson. Wrath hardened in her features but Jonesy’s voice cut off a tirade against the subordinate. ‘“‘Now, don’t go bawlin’ her out just to get off yourself,” grated Jonesy. ‘I can prove you had animosity and simply framed up on me. Just wait ’till the doc comes in—just wait ’till he comes in. And in the mean- time, clear out. T’ll watch out for myself until I get moved to a hospital where I don’t need to keep a cordon of cops on guard.” Miss Evans beckoned to Miss Simpson and with no more to say they left the room. Five minutes later Miss Powell walked in and Jonesy grinned victoriously. She ex- plained that she had been taken off the case because of his trip to the roof. ‘“‘They told me what happened just now,” she whispered, ‘‘and Miss Evans said she’d give mea clean slate if I’d come up here and convince you that the little episode involv- ing the acid was unintentional. She said COMIC DOOKS.COM