The All-Story, March 1914 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

636 nothing but the hope of a more just division of his wealth to cheer me in my midnight toil. This was my first venture; but, by cracky! it wouldn’t be the last, I exult- ed as the jagged pieces of olass went clattering to the floor inside. I'd tried for years to make an honest living, and how had I succeeded? When [ had fallen i. with Burkett, a month before, [ didn’t have a cent— or a sock—to my naine. The world owed ine a living— The last piece was out. I hoisted inyself into the opening, fought like a trapped rat for a minute, then landed, head on, among the glass. ‘And by the jumping John Rogers! if she wouldn't give it to me peaceably, I would take it from her person!” L erowled savagely and got to my feet. To my surprise the door my groping hands touched was not locked. I opened it—and faced a well-lighted room. \ man sat directly before me, stretched out comfortably ina big chair, ‘his feet on the rest, his hands lying along the arms. “Dear me, but you did_land hard! Ilurt you much? he: a pleasantly. if didi’ t answer right off; just stared at hin foolishly. He had a gun, of course, or he wouldn't be so complacent. I had one, too; but mine was in the bag T had drop} xed in the window before T had crawled through it. With the own- er of the house in Europe, I hadnt seen any sense risking having it shaved off of me in the necdle’s s eye stunt I had just pulled off; but now [ was sure up against it. Here he was, home again. IJ’d be a nice target pawing round the floor for the bag; a still nicer one if I attempted to again crawl through the window; a two-foct bull’s-eye that his shot would find as unerringly as m1v mother's slip- per used to years ago. “T am sorry you should have had so much trouble getting in,’ he went on politely. “ Especially as the ves- tibule door is unlocked.” THE ALL-STORY MAGAZINE, ‘ Un-unlocked! ” I stammered. | “Yes; my man Todd and Filson went out that way not long ago. But come in—do? How very inhospitable of me not to have asked you before!” For a moment I was tempted to bolt, Then the thought of how Burkett would jeer stiffened ine. ‘Don't move! ” I blustered, slipping my hand behind me and creeping slows ly toward him. ‘ Don’t move, or Ill fill you so full of shot—” | “Good Heavens, man!” He pre- tended to be scared, but his eyes were twinkling. “ What kind of a weapon have you got?” “Tl show you if you move a fin- ger!” I threatened. “ Now, hand over your gun!” | * Haven't one.” “Aw, come, now! Hand it over!” I braced right up to him, though the thickest part of me kept shrinking te ward my backbone. “T told you I didn’t have one!” There was a snap now in both his yoice and eyes that told me he was telling the truth. ‘ But that isn’t saying I won't get one,’ he added, laughing slyly. There was a table with lots of draw- ers beside him. Quick as scat I butted it back with my thigh, then grinned down at him. He shook his head and sighed. “You're too quick-witted for me, I am atratd.”’ “You bet I am!” and chesty. “ But what are you going to do with me when you leave the room?” he asked, as though seeing a ray of hope, 1 did some tall thmking while pre tending to go through my pockets for something. There were closets, of course; but I'd likely rouse the whole house getting him into one. That gave me another “thought that brought. the sweat; what was to hinder iio— “S-n!” I growled when he started to speak again, pretending to reach for my gun. “S-h! Some one will hear you!” There’s I blustered, big NO ONnec SPADA Hho