Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

—— -—._ over to the detective agency by which I was employed. It was agreed that nothing could be done except by strong-arm meth- ods. Also, I think you will agree that such methods were justified. Anyway, by fair means or foul, it was necessary to separate Mr. Goldheimer from that option! ‘““So, as one of the agency’s most suc- cessful operatives, why, the assignment was turned over to me. I soon discovered that BETWEEN THE LINES. 797 must be crazy to tell me that straight to my face! Or else you got a rctten memory! Anyway, [ got you now—and before a wit- ness! Hold him, Jimmy, while I get me an officer! And if he tries to get away—kill him! I give you leaf!” Goldheimer’s office was practically, as you might say, under his hat. He constantly carried important papers in a large black wallet in his inside coat pocket. Of course, the option might not be among them—but it was worth trying! “ Well, I trailed Goldheimer for three or four days, including nights, without getting a safe chance to put it across. Then one night I got him where I wanted him. So I pulled one of those old frontier model Colts on him. It looked like Big Bertha, and it wasn’t loaded. I had a handkerchief over the lower part of my face in the approved stick-up style. “Stick em up!’ I told him. ‘ And don’t be noisy if you know what’s good for you!’ ‘“ Well, say, honestly, I wish you could of seen the look on Goldheimer’s map! Funny? I hope to tell you! And his hands went up. He was actually scared to a pulp! ‘“So then I frisked him for the black wallet—and I might say right here that in it was the Carol Deane option! But—” But at that precise moment Mr. Mannie Eckstein blew up! ‘“ Robber!” yells Mannie exploding out of his chair. “So I got you now! And before a witness! You heard him, Jimmy? You heard him? Goldheimer, hey? U You. uv And Mr. Eckstein starts for the street like Zev finishing under the whip! ‘“ Beat it!” I advised Percival. ‘ Get going before the old man gets back with the bull! Don’t you get it? Goldheimer is Mannie, himself! And he’s got you dead to rights! Say, where did you get that stuff, anyway? But never mind! Right or wrong, the old man will law the life out of you! And if you ever show up on the lot —he’ll murder you!” “ But—” sputters Percival. “Here they come!” I warned him. And Percival saw a light. As Mannie and the cop came crashing in the front entrance, Percival shot out of the side door like a scared rabbit—and he made his get- away. Mannie was considerably disappointed at Percival’s escape—owing to my foot slipping, or something, as I explained it to him. However, on realizing that there was very little or no danger of Percival ever showing up again, why, Mr. Eckstein soon became reconciled to the situation. And what is more, Mr. Eckstein gave me my chance as a director. And I guess you know whether or not I made good. But I can truthfully say this: Whatever | am— to whatever degree of success I have at- tained—why, I owe it all to the constant help and encouragement of my ever loving wife. I hope to tell you! Le] THE 179TH NOVEL, ORIGINALLY PRINTED SERIALLY IN THIS MAGA- ZINE, TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM IS BIG GAME BY LOUIS LACY STEVENSON (Arcosy-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, March 1 to April 12, 1924.) Published in book form by Brentano’s, New York. Price $2.00. Lt Col) Elook (S@)