Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

124 from that point on. Good idea to phone Houghton at the Stamford House that you are coming and if they should move on he can get word back where they go.” ‘Keep after him until I deliver that mes- Sage?” ‘Surely. Ud rather you did it than Houghton. JI have an idea you will find them both in Stamford.” ‘“Shan’t bring him back with me?” de- manded Jerry, as if such a task, without the right of arrest, was an exceedingly simple matter. “Oh, no. Just tell him he had better come. If he doesn’t care to do so assure him I ean get a warrant and that we'll have a man on his heels so as to know where to serve it. J think he'll about face when you ask him to do so.” “And Margaret Holden?” ‘Mrs. Sands, I believe. She’ll come with him, I hope. Might suggest to him that he have her do so. What you want to do is to make him comprehend that he and the lady were damn fools to run away as they did. Get the idea?” “T do, and he will,” nodded Jerry and went out. Craton ran over his papers once more and clapped on his hat. With a swing in his walk he went down the cross street and through the park. It was a remarkable day and he hurried along, his tanned face touched with a rising color that made him look youthful. There was a keen sparkle in his eyes, and his lips, now and then, were puckered in a soft whistle. He looked anything but a detective bent on rounding out a case in record time. He gave his card to the servant who an- swered his ring as, with a bound, he mount- ed the front steps of a rather pretentious house and pressed the bell. “Just say to Mr. Vrooman that while I know he is indisposed I feel it necessary to trouble him.” Craton waited in a small reception room for the servant’s return. When the sum- mons came he followed to the second floor and into a large room at the front. It was obviously 2 reom used both as living room and library. The furnishings were a little too ostentatious, but they only ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. received a cursory inspection from Banard Craton. “Mr. Craton,” suggested the man who had risen from an easy chair before the fireplace. Mr. Vrooman certainly looked ill. He was a tall, thin man, well past middle life. There were black rings under his eyes and an ashen pallor to his face. His hand trem- bled noticeably as he half extended it, but noting that his caller had not offered his, withdrew it again. ‘Sorry to trouble you at a time like this, Mr. Vrooman,” Craton apologized, “ but it is one of those things that can’t be left until another day. I presume you know my occupation?” ‘““J—I can’t say that I do, sir. The name is very familiar, but I hardly think | IT have ever met you before.” “T hardly think we have met,” admitted Craton, accepting the chair Vrooman indi- cated with a wave of his trembling hand. ‘“T am a detective.” ““ A detective!” Mr. Vrooman sat down heavily in his chair and his dark rimmed eyes were riveted pen his caller’s face. “A detective. Ah, yes ”’—steadying his voice with an ces ““T do recall. Indeed. The Mr. Banard Craton, whose name is so well known. How does it happen I am honored?” “You have seen the morning pepe demanded Craton. “T have. “Have you seen the—but there is no need of my asking,” he smiled, indicating the pile of extras on the floor at Vrooman’s feet. ‘I am referring to the affair at Brookmeadow—Willet Sands’s murder.” Mr. Vrooman’s pale gray eyes turned to the littered pile of papers at his feet and his lips set hard. ‘A terrible affair—terrible. I suppose it is because I was interested with Mr. Sands in some business matters that you have called to see mé. You detectives = to follow every line, I suppose.” ‘We do,” nodded Craton. ‘ Every tine, even when we know it won’t lead us to a thing. I had to come and see you even if you were ill and I disliked to bother you at such a time.” COMmiclbooOolks COM