Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

O74 “Weill?” ‘Unquestionably, then, the globe in the library is an article of furniture.” “Unquestionably, But what of that?” “I know! I know!” said Olivetta. “ It was in the globe that he kept them all! And you found the trick, Mr. Logan. Madras, Calcutta, Singapore—” “My dear,” said her father, “do you mind telling me what in the world you are talking about?” Logan seemed even more disturbed. He gaped and stared at the girl as though she had changed to a monstrosity. ‘“ And do you mean to say,” he breathed, “that vou worked it out, too? That you saw through the meaning of that death bed speech of his?” “Why not?” asked Olivetta. ‘““ Nothing,” murmured Logan, letting his body relax and his head fall back a little. He inhaled a great breath of smoke and blew it forth in a gust. ‘‘ Except,” he went on, “‘ that I was flattering myself that had it not been for me the jewels would have been lost to the world forever—or until the globe fell to pieces, say!” “And except for you, after all,” said the eirl, “I think they would. I saw you at the globe. And that started me thinking.” “My dear,” said Hugh Dascom, “I am completely in the dark as to what you mean.” 3 “You'll learn in a moment or two, though,” said Logan. ‘“ And if— Hello!” The last exclamation came as the lights burned suddenly low, and then slowly re- gained their former brightness. “But what I had been hoping from the first,” went on Logan, “ was that if these jewels were discovered through me, you might lose your interest In sending me up the river, Mr. Dascom. What do you think?” ‘““ Up the river?” queried the latter. “To prison, IT mean.” “Ah, yes! I hardly think it likely, Logan. Not from the way you handled your gun, you know!” “And yet, dad—” began Olivetta. “ And yet, Olivetta,” said Hugh Dascom, “T think you have the right to dispose of him one way or another. The policeman ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. who comes with the ambulance can be put off with one sort of a story or another, eh?” ‘Then, let him go free. He’s been pun- ished enough. Not by the bullet, but by losing the jewels. Isn’t that true?” “You understand,” said Logan softly. ‘You simply understand, I see!” ‘* But suppose we make a bargain out of it,” said Olivetta. The face of Logan darkened. “ Well, then?” he said. ‘It must have been a queer adventure— that which gave you the knowledge about these jewels and where they were.” ‘* Not where they were,” said Logan hast- ily. “* Nothing in that. I worked out where they were with my own poor brain, Miss Dascom.” “ But at least, you knew that he had this little treasure?” “ Do you call this a little treasure?” “No matter how much—if you will tell us exactly how you came to know—then I thmk we can call it a finished bargain, Mr. Logan.” He paused, smiling, but his face was col- orless. “You don’t really mean it,” he said. “You wouldn’t make my liberty hang on a story?” Her curiosity was afire. “Tm sorry, Mr. Logan.” ** You stick to it?” “JY think I shall have to.” Logan closed his eyes and began to bite his lip in silence, as though enduring a great torture. And yet it was patent that it was only a mental agony. Suddenly he looked up. His eyes were wild as they flashed about the room. “That’s final,” he said. “ That’s prom- ised?” “It is.” ‘And no matter what’s told—mind you, j haven’t time to make up lies—I go free?” “¢ Yes! PP) Logan turned a little on the bed and fastened his glance steadily upon John Hodge. “ Ti tell on one condition!” *“* Name it, then. “That nobody leaves the room while I’m talking.” COMmMicoooks.EcO