Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

OUT OF THE WORLD FOR A WHILE. ‘Well, gentlemen,” said Ruth in a light, hard tone, “ what is it?” CHAPTER XY. FROM THE DEAD. OW much is your balance in the bank, Mrs. Seagrave?” Allison asked. ‘““T have a very small balance,” Ruth answered. | ‘“‘T refer to the balance of the Seagrave company.” ‘“Oh! Why, that’s considerable. Some- thing over a hundred thousand dollars.” “You will write a check for ninety thou- sand dollars,” Allison said. “TI hate not to take the remaining ten thousand or so, but we mustn’t let it seem that you are withdrawing your account. Make it pay- able to Radcliffe.” “How will he get it cashed?” Ruth asked. ‘I can stop payment on it before the bank is open in the morning. I can have Radcliffe arrested.” “You won’t be in a position to do either of these things,” Allison said, indulging in a sly grin. ‘‘ You will be right here till the transaction is carried out.” “ And if I don’t give you the check, what will you do?” Allison shrugged his shoulders and stood looking at her for a moment. “Ts it necessary for me to put it into words?” he asked then. “No; it isn’t,’ Ruth said. “TI can see that you are capable of anything.” Allison drew out a chair from the table and laid a fountain pen on it. He indicated by a gesture that she should be seated. Seagrave took a forward step. “ Allison,” he said grimly, “ youll have to travel fast if you carry out this plan. I don’t think any of you have the courage to murder me. If you do this thing and I continue to live, I'll follow you over the world till I find you. Then Ill kill you.” “Vm trying to carry it off smoothly,” Allison said. ‘‘ You insist on injecting melo- drama. But, my dear fellow, can’t you see that you are powerless just now, no mat- ter what you do in future? I have an idea that you are stubborn enough and foolish enough to fight till you drop, but—-” “And brave enough,” Ruth softly of- fered. ““ Brave enough, Mrs. Seagrave, if you in- sist,” Allison agreed, “ but Seagrave ought to see that if he opposes us any longer it will not be he, but you, who will suffer.” Ruth smiled up at her husband. “Tm afraid we'll have to recognize that as the big fact, won’t we?” she asked. Seagrave stood looking at Allison. He saw that force would avail nothing now. These men had the upper hand in that re- spect. He would have at least to let Ruth make out the check. Then he would have to hope that good fortune would aid him in frustrating them before the check was cashed. “T guess we'll have to yield temporarily, Ruth,” he said. Ruth seated herself at the table and looked up at Allison. He didn’t understand how she could be so bright and cheerful. She looked, as he phrased it, as if she had an ace in the hole. ‘““You’ve courage, anyhow, Mrs. Sea- grave,” he said. ‘“T may have courage, but I don’t hap- pen to have a blank check,” Ruth said with a subdued laugh. “T have,” Allison said. He drew a checkbook from his pocket and laid it before her. “Do you remember the number of the last check you wrote?” he asked. ‘“ That’s a little thing, but it’s the little things that catch a man up in cases like this. I’d like to have that check properly numbered.” ‘“T remember the number all right,” Ruth answered, “but this check is perfectly blank, Mr. Allison. Our checks have the name of the company printed on them. Won’t that make a difference? The check we use is larger than these packet checks also.” Allison frowned. Ruth was thinking of little things which he himself would not have noticed. “Don’t you have a pocket checkbook?” he asked. “TY do, but I have never written a busi- ness check on one of those blanks. I’ve al- CoOMmicoooks 945, (S@)