Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

538 T Luxury.” ‘¢ Speculation.” : “Risk.” Alexander’s tones quivered' a little, but whether from excitement or some other emotion McCarty could not deter- mine. “ Bankruptcy.” é¢ Loss.”’ ) ‘“‘ Hypothecation.”’ ‘* Pledging—security.”’ lowed with a visible effort. “ Restitution.” “Giving back—” Alexander half rese from his chair. ‘“ Really, Mr. Terhuhe, these words seem meaningless to me! I find myself giving you mere definitions— which you stated at the beginning you did not desire—because they awaken no an- swering chord in my mind. Frankly, I don’t understand what you are attempting to do!” “You will in just a moment, Mr. Alex- ander.” Terhune took his eyes for a fleet- ing second from the projection sheet. “ Tell me what comes to your mind with the word ‘ bookkeeper.’ ”’ “‘War,”’ Alexander responded promptly and then seemed to stiffen. “ Theft.” “ Jewels.” slight pause. Terhune smiled, but he shook his head. ‘* Exposure.” ‘‘ Disgrace!”” The reply came in a mere whisper. . ‘Lower left-hand drawer.” It was the first time that Terhune had suggested a phrase instead of a single word, and Mc- Carty loeked at him in amazement, but his eyes were quickly drawn to the older man. ‘““I—I don’t know what yeu mean!” Alexander stammered. “What did Grayson, your bookkeeper, have in the lower left-hand drawer ef his desk?”’ Terhune suddenly drepped all pre- tense of continuing the test, but in the tensity of the moment no ene save Mc- Carty and Inspector Druet appeared to note the fact. ‘‘ What did you take from that drawer on Wednesday afternoon and then put back again? You were seen with it in your hands! You were seen when yeu removed it a second time on Thursday, just Alexander swal- There had been another a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, before closing hour. What was it, Mr. Alexander?” “JT don’t know! I don’t understand you!” Alexander’s fingers twitched ner- vously. ‘‘I—I took nothing from that drawer—’’ ‘‘ Shall I tell you?” Terhune interrupted swiftly. ‘It was Grayson’s army pistol. Where is it now? What did you do with ite” ‘‘ I—I took it home—” The voice quav- ered and died away into silence and Alex- ander sat gazing as though fascinated into the face of his inquisiter. “For what purpose?” Terhune could not quite conceal the hint ef exiultation which crept into his tenes nor the glance of triumph which he shot at the mspector and McCarty. But as though by a miracle George Alex- ander seemed to have recovered his poise and he braced himself in his chair. ‘““T shall not tell yeu,’’. he spoke with quiet dignity. ‘I perceive now that this evening’s so-called scientific test has been but a farce, a trick! self stated, I am at .lreerty to reply or not, as I choose. In this instance I do not choese.”’ _ “Then suppose I tell your” Terhune rose and towered above the frail, dapper figure in the chair. ‘“ Yeu have been un- fortunate in your speculations in Wall Street for years and when your brother died and his will appeinted you the guardian ef his daughter and her two hundred thousand dollars, you were on the brink of ruin. Her money tided you over that crisis, but you continued to speculate it until, little by little, you lest it all. You were at your wit’s end, for she would seen have come of age and demanded the acceunting you could not give, when Creveling came along and wanted to marry her. She had no love for him, but he offered to ge ite part- nership with you and yeu brought all the influence and pressure te bear upon her that - you could command. ‘“ Knowing the man’s dissqlute character and unsavory reputation you nevertheless literally forced yeur niece into the marriage. But your partnership has not been a suc- cess and Creveling’s extravagance has de- - ECORnNIClOooolkKSs As you have your- | Colin