Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

602 thorities any assistance whatever! However —I’m coming back to face the music, later, if they don’t find the veal murderer in the interim. No need to tell you that, surely— or that I am innocent of any wrongdoing whatever! You see, I’ve just found out that I’ve loved Garry all along—never, never any one else—and I’m not going to waste any more time! I’m going to live and love at last—as I’ve always wanted to. And, Jack— I’ve an idea, now, that it’s all the same thing; loving is living. Until we meet again—and always—always, Your devoted sister, KATHERINE. She folded it and looked up, to find both men waiting. “ Next?” she asked. “ Next,” said Fielding, “ we must send for Silvers.” “Send for Silvers?” echoed Garry. ‘“ What’s the idea of doing that?” “Joan said to. Thinks we ought to leave Silvers and Charlie locked up here while we make our get-away through the mirror. Then they can’t interfere until it’s too late.” “ That’s right,” agreed Garry. “ Silvers raised a row with me when I started out before for the doctor’s emergency bag. But how are we going to keep them here?”’ “ That’s my job,” said Fielding. ‘“ You two go and get your coats and things. You'll find Joan in the ladies’ room waiting for you, Miss Kendall. And you might bring my hat and coat also, if you will,” he added, offering Garry the check. “ When you are ready, meet me near the big mirror. You know the one, Carpenter!” “Yes,” said Garry. “ All right! along, Kit!” “ One thing more,” said Fielding. “ Just to dispose of the cloak-room maid, who is rather an uncertain person, you might send her to your brother’s table with that note. But be sure you seal it first.” “ T understand,” said Katherine. He opened the door then and let them out. The music was still beating and sob- bing and wailing. The dancers still re- volved with unabated enthusiasm, buoyed up by frequent drafts of stimulating liquors. No one paid any heed to Katherine and Garry as they mounted the steps to the dressing rooms. Come ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Don’t be long,’’ whispered Garry, as they separated. “No,” said the girl, nodding. She did not glance toward the door behind which Da Costa lay. That chapter of her life was ended. In the dressing room Joan was waiting, and she hovered over Katherine as Kath- erine made her bridal toilette—just rouged her lips and passed the powder puff over her face; and fluffed out her bobbed hair. But there was something about her, some- how, that made her lovelier and more bride- like than all the white satins and lace veils and orange blossoms in the world could have done—something that flamed within her, lighting her eyes, and curving her smil- ing lips, and flushing her cheeks. - She saw it herself in her mirrored reflec- tion—the radiance that was about her— and she hastened to send the cloak-room maid upon her errand, lest that much-too- wise and suspicious person note the im- provement, too, and guess at the cause of it! “Would you mind taking this note for me—to my brother’s table?” she asked, ex- tending the note with a bill. “Til wait here for the answer.” “Certainly,” said the woman eagerly, pocketing the bill. She relished the mission since it sent her into the supper room, and promised her some later information regarding the Da Costa affair. And she went forth, entirely unaware that she was being got rid of. But the moment she was gone, Kath- erine and Joan found Katherine’s cloak and came forth to find Garry waiting on the landing. And together they descended to the great mirror that hid the little door— there to await Fielding’s coming. Fielding, meanwhile, had transferred the door key to the outside of the office door and then had sent a passing waiter to sum- mon Silvers and Charlié. Silvers arrived first—arrived puffing with excitement and haste and anticipation—to be met by Field- ing at the office door. ‘“Mr. Carpenter asked me to send for you,” he explained. “He says he has an important disclosure to make if you will SS a ee a CONNICOOKS. COL — acer S