Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

536 ‘Go ahead!” Waverley responded, with a somewhat uneasy grin. “It’s your move!” . CHAPTER XXVIII. “EXTREMELY SIMPLE.”’ ERHUNE’S tone fell again to a mono- T tone. “My first word is: ‘ Creveling.’ ” ‘ Suicide,” responded Waverley dogged- ly after a_moment’s deliberation. He glanced covertly at Cutter and wet his thick lips with the tip of his tongue. ‘“* Cause.”’ of defiance. eS Supper.”’ Waverley opened his lips to speak and then halted, while an angry red suffused his heavy, pendulous cheeks. At length with a sneering attempt at flippancy, a answered: “ Food.” ‘“ Butler,” Terhune continued as though he had not noted the evasion. ‘““ Sneak!” growled Waverley and then drew his breath in sharply with belated cau- tion. The reply came with a note “ Quarrel.”’ “Temper.” He was evidently holding _ himself under guard now. “Woman.” “Trouble.” This was accompanied by a shrug and a leer, but his thin tones showed the strain he was under and his eyes turned not to his interregator, but to Cut- ter, like those of a dog to his master. “Love.” Terhune droned monotonously. ‘“‘ Infatuation!’’ There was ineffable con- tempt in the tone. “* Revenge.”’ “ Feolish!’’ Waverley could no longer pretend net to comprehend the trend of _ the examination and his small eyes snapped viciously from between the rolls of fat which all but blotted them out. ‘‘ Blood.”” Terhune’s steady voice seemed to cut deeper into the thick hide of Wav- erley’s sensibilities and the veins steod out suddenly upon the latter’s brow. ** Say, what in hell are you getting at?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. he demanded. ‘I’ve humored you with your absurd inquisition and your damned contrivances long enough!” ‘That is a very satisfactory reply, Mr. Waverley,” Terhune responded, unmoved. ‘“‘T have only one more word to suggest to you and that is, ‘ alibi.’ ” “It’s one word too many, you pettifog- ging meddier!’”’ Waverley sprang from his chair. ‘ You claim that this is only a scien- tific experiment and under cover of it you dare to insult people with a lot of infernal insinuations and innuendoes you haven't the nerve to come out with openly! Try this grand stand play of yours on some other sucker; I’m through! Coming, Nick?” “No. I haven’t had my turn yet, and I confess I am interested.” Cutter smiled inscrutably into the angry face looking down upon him and made no change in his easy, relaxed attitude. ‘‘ You’re acting like an ass, Doug! Sit down and calm your- ' self.” “Not I! want to, but I’m off. Inspector, if you or any other of the accredited authorities want me you know where to find me.” He fluag himself from the room and they heard him fumbling in the hall for his hat and stick, and then the resounding slam of. the en- trance door. ‘‘ Disgusting exhibition!” George Alex- ander commented with dignity. ‘“ I never could understand why Eugene tolerated such a boor! Mr. Terhune, like Mr. Cutter I find your experiment profoundly interest- ing. Pray, continue. Personally, I feel that this otherwise regrettable interruption has somewhat cleared the air.” Knowing Terhune’s_ ultimate purpose, McCarty nearly choked’ and glanced at Dennis, who responded with an expectant grin. The inspector was eying Terhune quizzically. ‘““T shall not be long now.” The crim- inologist smiled an acknowledgment of the older man’s remark. “ Mr. Cutter, may I trouble you next?”’ ‘With pleasure.” Cutter turned toward him. “I am quite at your service.” “Thank you. What then does the word ‘ friend ’ suggest to you?”’ COL NDOO|KKS @ You can be the geat if you Colin