Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

434 by far the largest of the dwellings, tower- ing like some baronial stronghold above the _city. In the very top of this house were a few lights so dim and far away that at first they seemed to Kain to belong to the host of yellow stars. He turned from his gate now, and set out at a brisk pace, leaning straight into the arms of the wind and walking with a more powerful and elastic step than could have been expected from his somewhat frail pro- portions. Perhaps his strength was that nervous energy which stocks up in some men like electricity in storage batteries, a vitality slowly accumulated and spent in surprising bursts. He was almost at once under the trees of Albemarle Park with the wind making a great moaning through the branches above him, and now he came to a point where the Turner Road made its sharp turn and swept up the face of Albemarle Heights in generous curves. Here he drew back into the shelter of a broad-trunked tree. He had not long to wait. A tall figure strode around the curve, followed by a thick-set figure who at this moment broke into a run, planted himself in front of the first man, and presented a gleaming revol- ver. The other threw his hands above his head, so high that in comparison with the thief he seemed a giant about to beat an enemy into the ground; Kain drew an auto- matic and ran toward them. At his first shot the thief jumped back and fired in reply; at his second shot Bud Gainer turned around and raced off among the trees. Kain drew to a panting halt beside the tall man. “ Did he get anything?” he asked. The man of the black neckcloth, who seemed not in the least discomposed, drew his watch from a vest pocket and weighed it in his hand with a chuckle. *“ No, Mr. Thief was searching for my wallet and he didn’t waste time on trifles.” He added as if in afterthought: “‘ Very de- cent of you to help me out so promptly. Very! There are some things in my wallet I shouldn’t like to miss even for a short time.”’ Kain put up his gun. ‘“ Nervy devil,” he remarked, “ to try his ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. game on a main thoroughfare. Good night to you, sir.” The tall man called him back. ‘We mustn’t part as casually as this,” he said. “ May I walk on a way with you?” “As a matter of fact,” answered Kain, “I’m merely strolling about; lead on and I'll follow.” “Good,” said the tall man. “ I’m going up to the Heights and I'll be happy to have you with me. Besides, my friend the thief might come back at me, and I’m not armed.”’ “An excellent reason,” nodded Kain, and he started out at the side of the other, quick- ening his pace with something of an effort to match the long strides of his companion. ** My name—”’ began he of the neckcloth. But Kain cut in with a soft laugh. | “We're all an odd, conventional lot, aren’t we?” he said. “I perform a slight service for you, you give me your card, I give you mine; we call upon each other, we dine together, we discuss the signs of the times and politics, we reduce each other to a few notations and file away the card in a mental index. Now, my tall friend, why the devil should we dull the edge of this rather stimulating meeting in the dark by passing through all the old formalities?”’ The big man seemed to consider this for a time, quickening his pace like a man in thought: At length he chuckled. He said: “ This is a novel way of meeting an introduction, but if you wish to remain Mr. Z while I am Mr. X, by all means:have it your own way.” And he chuckled again. “*T hope you won’t take me for an ec- centric,” said Kain, “ but you'll admit that a ship you pass in the night is far more in- teresting than one you see in port and can tell the tonnage, the horse power, and all that.”’ “Quite correct,” said Mr. X, and he laughed again much after the manner of one who keeps a pleasant secret, but as they passed under a street lamp he turned, short- tening his step, and stared fixedly at his companion. “ At least,” he went on, “I shall remember your face.” “It means nothing,” answered Kain, com IeClOOOKKS COR