Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

Wie vy ] pare f ta ra! th Robe Meee i WAY ak pat FORD ih Ts Gola BB Adal Bae Sibyl 9 500 is another thing he’s like you in. Keeps his mouth shut. Anybody would think I could not be trusted.” “It’s not that, May, and you know it,” declared her brother, “ but there are some things a wise fellow don’t talk of until he’s done them. Get my meaning?” “Yes, I see what you meanz but all the same, I think it’s very queer of Nick, and his silence is no excuse for your secretive- ness. Anyhow, I don’t have to be told what you have on to-night. I can guess, and— and I wish you wouldn’t do it.” “Do what?” “You know.” Bill stood up. He looked at the clock. “ Time’s getting on,” he stated, “and don’t get guessing too much, May. For all you know, I might have a date with some nice girl.” “You might, but you haven’t. But what is the use of talking? A man’s worse than a mule. You'll have your own way what- ever I say. What time are you coming back? It was past twelve when you came in last night. I lay awake until I heard you come up the stairs. You may be able to pussyfoot in other places, but you can’t move around your own house without your sister knowing it.” | Bill grinned at her appreciatively. ““You’ve got the looks and all your five senses about you; but, honest, you don’t have to strain those pink. ears of yours over. me. I can look after myself. There’s noth- ing to worry over. Ill try and get back early. Maybe I'll give Nick a visit and see what he’s up to.” - Leaving the kitchen, Bill Murray went. up to his room. When he entered it, he was a smart, upstanding policeman. ‘Twen- ty minutes later, when he came out, he was —something very different. In looks, Bill Murray was a completely changed man. At the top of the stairs he stood for a moment. He wanted to go out of the house without being seen by his sister. Should he try to go down the stairs quietly and get away without her hearing him, or should he be bold? May had quick ears. If she thought he was trying to leave the house without her seeing him, she would come out of the kitchen at the least sound. The best ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. way was to make plenty of noise, and so— ROL give cause for suspicion. Bill started to whistle as he ran down the stairs. ‘“ Shan’t be very late,” he called out and hurried to the front-door. His hand was on the latch. In another two sec- onds he would have been outside, safe from being seen by May. Then—the kitchen door flew open, and she came running. “Tf you see Nick, tell him—O-o-oh! Why— What—” May came closer. She stared at her brother. “You look—like a bum,” she declared. “ That dirty old cap! Those clothes! And —ne. collar. Why, your face is all dirty, too. I would never have known you.” *“That’s just as it should be,” said Bill. “The less I look like a cop and the more like a loafer, the quicker and better I’ll get through with—with what I’m after. Now be a good little girl and do what your Bill tells you. Don’t get to worrying about any- thing. Ill bring you a box of candy—the kind you like.” Before the girl had time to stop him, Bill had opened the door and gone. May went slowly back to the kitchen. Her eyes were sad and her lips trembled a little. She was. very fond of big Bill. About a mile from the little home he shared with his sister, Bill left the town behind him. Slowly, as if he had nowhere in particular to go, he walked along a dirt road. The few distant, lighted windows of the houses far across the open lots on both sides of the road made the night seem all the darker. After ten minutes’ walk, Bill left the road. He crawled quieily down the side of a ditch, and after lis- tening there a while, crept up the other side and went along the inside of the hedge until he came to a mass of trees. Hidden among these trees and bushes, Bill waited and watched a large house. The lower windows of this house showed less darkly blank in the gloom than those on the upper floor. All the lower windows were boarded over with rough lumber. No ray of light pierced the cracks; on the floor. above, the weather stained glass testified to the fact that the house had been to rent for years. Now, although there had been (ECM OCKOKSECO) 5}