Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

$12 Henry Orbit nodded slowly, and the con- cern deepened upon his face as he waved them back to their chairs and seated him- self in a high-backed one facing them. ‘““T know of no one who carries such a tag, except my valet, Hughes. Has he got- ten into any trouble? Ching Lee tells me that from your description the man about whom you are inquiring is undoubtedly Hughes.” “You don’t seem surprised, Mr. Orbit,” the inspector observed bluntly. ‘“‘ Has this valet of yours been in trouble before?” A shadow of regret more than annoyance crossed the face of their host, and he shook his head. “He has gotten into more than one scrape, although nothing to my knowledge, of course, that would engage the attention of the police. I am afraid he is rather a scoundrel, but he has been with me for twenty-two years, and I cannot believe him utterly reprehensible. Has he suggested to you that I would help him now?” “The man I’m asking about is beyond any one’s help, Mr. Orbit,” responded the official. “He is dead.” “Dead!” the other repeated in a low, shocked tone, after a moment’s pause. “ It seems incredible! Did an accident occur?” “ That’s what we want to find out,” In- spector Druet announced grimly. ‘“ There are several suspicious circumstances con- nected with his death. Do you know of any enemies he may have had?” Orbit frowned slightly, and his glance traveled in startled amazement to the faces of McCarty and Dennis and back again to his interrogator. ‘“‘ Enemies?” he repeated. “ Surely there was no violence? I know nothing of Hughes’s personal affairs, but I should not have fancied he had an active enemy in the world!” CHAPTER II. THE NOSE OF DENNIS RIORDAN. HERE was a _ second momentary -. pause, and then the inspector asked: “Did he give you any excuse for wanting an evening out to-night?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘No, none. It was not unusual, and I thought nothing of it.” Orbit’s hands clenched slightly. “I cannot believe that poor Hughes is really gone! Perhaps Ching Lee made a mistake, perhaps some one else had come into possession of Hughes’s key- ring. Will you describe him to me, please, and tell me the suspicious circumstances you mentioned?” “You describe the fellow, Mac. You examined him and his clothes more closely than I did.” There was a double signifi- cance in the inspector’s tone, and he added: “Special Deputy McCarty happened to be there when this man died.” Orbit nodded, and fixed his eyes expect- antly on McCarty as the latter briefly com- plied with the inspector’s request, without, however, mentioning the letters in the hat. When he had finished, Orbit exclaimed: “Tt is he, beyond a doubt! The rain- coat and brown sack suit were my own, given to him when I tired of them myself; and he must have copied my cat’s-eye pin and links, although he was careful never to let me see them, of course. How did his death occur?” “Well, sir, he was hurrying along in the rain, and all of a sudden he dropped.” Mc- Carty chose his words carefully. “ When me and a friend of mine got to him, he was breathing his last, and the end came as I lifted his head to my knee. How did he happen to be wearing a hat with the letters ‘B. P.’ in it, Mr. Orbit? Who is A Pe Orbit frowned again thoughtfully. “TI cannot at the moment recall any one with those initials, but naturally I have no knowledge of his friends or associates,” he replied at last. “ Surely that is immaterial, however. What was suspicious about the poor fellow’s death? He was an irreproach- able servant, but when his time was hi8 own his habits were irregular, and I should not have been surprised to learn that his heart had failed or he had suffered a stroke.” “ Had he been drinking the last time you saw -him—this evening, I think you said?” McCarty asked. “Certainly not! I have never seen him under the influence of alcohol, or he would COMMicoookSs.eE©