Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? now and again and I’d like to put something his way.” “Tt’s all in your hands, Mac, so long as there isn’t any slip in getting Hill under lock and key. One of the boys will be at the house with the warrant almost as soon as you are.” But McCarty did not at first turn his steps in the direction of the Creveling house. Instead he took a down-town Third Avenue car and alighted at the scene of the Hil- dreth woman’s escape on the previous night. The stout young operative from the detec- tive bureau who had relieved Yost was seat- ed in the kitchen, where the broken door - and smashed flower-pots still bore mute evidence of siege and flight. It was evi- dent, too, from a hasty glance around the few barely furnished rooms of the little flat that Yost and the policeman on the beat had made an even more thorough search of the premises for possible clues than McCarty and Dennis had done. Every drawer and box and receptacle of any sort had been thrown open and its con- tents scattered far and wide; even the bed had been ripped apart and the cheap up- holstery of the parlor suite was cut and slashed to ribbons, undoubtedly in a search for the stolen emeralds. McCarty looked everywhere, but that which he himself cen- scientiously sought was not forthcoming—a gilt-edged pack of playing-cards with their backs printed in rich colors and gold. Half an hour later, accompanied with obvious reluctance by another man, he pre- sented himself at the Creveling house and was admitted by Rollins, who eyed his com- panion somewhat uneasily before address- ing his visitors. ‘“Good morning, sir. There’s a—a per- son waiting ‘ere for you. ’E said as ‘ow you'd be along presently.”’ ~ “ That’s all right; I’ll see him in a min- ute. How is Mrs. Creveling?” ‘* Better, sir, the doctor says, but rest- ing. Mrs. Waverley and Mr. Alexander are up-stairs with ’er.”’ ‘I don’t want to. bother any of them,”’ McCarty said hastily. ‘‘ My business is with the valet, Frank Hill. Will you ask him to come here?” “Very good, sir.” dol When the butler had departed upon his errand McCarty turned to his companion. ‘‘Go into the breakfast-room, there, but leave the door ajar. Listen to everything that is said and when I call you, come out. Understand ?”’ “Yes.” The man moved over to the door indicated, shaking his head disapprov- ingly as he went. “I don’t like this busi- ness! this fellow has done what you say he has. It’s a dirty trick!”’ As he disappeared a fourth man slid around from an angle of the stairs where he had evidently been waiting. ‘“ Here, Mac. Here’s the warrant the old man sent up; want me to stay and serve it for you?” “No. Give it to me, Hecker, but you’d better wait with Yost. Go up-stairs and bring him down to the back hall as soon as I get into talk with Hill, and when I serve him you can do the rest.” The man withdrew and McCarty pock- eted the warrant as Hill, pale and worn, but quite composed, appeared on the stairs. ‘“Good morning, sir. You wanted to speak to me?” | “Yes. Hill, what did you -do when you were released from the station-house last night?” “I came straight back here, sir. I—TI hadn’t been given any notice and I am still in service, for Mrs. Creveling is keeping me on, at least till things are straightened out, sir.”’ His tone was respectful, but indif- ferent, as thofigh the reply were a super- fluous one. ‘““'You’ve been here ever since; in the - house, I mean?” “ Of course, sir.” with mild surprise. ‘Where do you stay on your time off, Hill?” ‘I sleep here, sir; I haven’t any niece of my own. P ve been right with Mr. Creveling all these years.”’ ‘Do you ever travel under any other name than the one you’re known by here?” ‘“Of course not!” proper touch of scandalized indignation in his voice at the question. ‘Do you know a woman who calls her- This time he spoke It don’t seem fair to me, even if | There was just the- OO YN S Colin COMIC