Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

_-_ This figure let loose the pent-up greed of - ownership and excitement in the throng. Bids came flying thick and fast, like hail- stones spatting about the auctioneer. - But still the figure of the bearded man stood motionless by the hydrangea bush. The only noticeable change in his pose was - the folding of his arms, where his long white fingers stood out lividly against the black of his coat, Yet his hands were as still as the rest of him. He appeared to be paying scant heed to the growing excitement about him. He was like a man waiting, waiting, But for what? If ke came only to glimpse the knife, why linger longer? Mayhap he had a proxy in the crowd with orders to bid in the knife for him. Yet, if he had arranged for a sub- stitute to buy the dagger for him, why had he come, even if he were obviously uncon- scious of the risk and the surveillance he was under? The excitement and the mystery thick-. ened momentarily. And Nancy stood wait- ing as quietly, as purposively as the dark garbed figure. For, despite the heterogene- ous mass about us, these two, to my mind, stood out like beacons of sinister silence and hidden strength. Momentarily I began to fear that whatever lay in back of Nancy’s ruse, she was pitting her wits against some subtle master mind. A lull followed the bid for a thousand dol- lars. I was not surprised. The figure seemed ridiculous, extravagant beyond words to me. It showed to what heights ~morbidity could be played. “One thousand dollars,” repeated the auctioneer for the first time. Then he fol- lowed with more adjurations and lashing exhortations. Just as I began to think the knife would be knocked down for a thou- sand dollars, the big man who had made the ‘second bid offered eleven hundred. I began to wonder if this were the proxy whom f had begun to suspect among the crowd bidding for the man who stood aloof and away from it. The same scene was reénacted by further pleadings from Mr. Maddox. Assuredly he knew his business. -_ A silence followed, unbroken by any be- lated bidder. MYSTERY OF VOODOO MANOR. 605 The auctioneer became a truly oratorical figure as he again harangued the people with biting philippics. IT could feel Nancy’s tense and strained attitude, as if she were poised and awaiting something. Now she was in striking contrast to the nonchalant, inat- tentive figure by the hydrangea bush. Did his attitude whisper that his purpose had -already.oeen accomplished, that he was con- ident and secure in the outcome? “One thousand one hundred dollars, once!’’ The silence at last forced the auc- tioneer to the final calling. ‘‘ One thousand one hundred dollars, twice—” * Still a thick silence. Frowningly the auctioneer raised his gavel. | Then the man by the hydrangea bush insolently lifted his head, In a thin, high, yet singularly metallic monotone, his voice easily carried in the portentous stillness. “One thousand five hundred dollars,” he chanted. — CHAPTER XIX. WHAT THE AUCTION REVEALED. HIS arresting voice caused many a head to swivel back hastily, eager to catch a glimpse of the new bidder, who had obviously attracted little attention previously. Still the man stood as motion- less as a statue. There was scorn and in- difference in his expression as he looked haughtily over their heads, and for the first time surveyed the auctioneer. “Ah!” recognized that worthy. “ At last we. have a connoisseur among us! It is indeed a pleasure that at least one per- son realizes his opportunity when he sees it.” Yet no one else showed any inclination to raise the bid. — At that moment Nancy took a handker- chief from her pocket. I could see the auc- tioneer’s glance out of the tail of his eye as he acted on this preconcerted signal. “One thousand five hundred dollars,” he hastened on. “A real art critic has offered me one thousand five hundred dollars. Do ~ I hear any other bid?” He did not. LL Eomichbooks:Gco