Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

218 ‘facts are plain. Well, Hamilton isn’t as bad as this, anyhow. Listen!” “We shouldn’t!” “All right; try not to hear it. He’s not a lover; he’s an announcer! Whoa! Some- thing’s gone wrong.” He began to be aware of a growing si- lence—a cryptic and monotonous silence which lasted until Steve and Beth were forced to look at each other in perplex- ity. They became very quiet. Minutes passed. Then came a new voice, high and shrill and passionate, disclosing that a third person had entered the house. The voice yelled unintelligible things. The’ others started talking. There was a clamor until his tones grew clearer and harsher, domi- nating every other sound. “You crook; you double-crosser! You thought you was smart, Steinemann, but we traced you, you big robber! You King of the Hijackers! Aw, do you think we don’t know how you played us along, pre- tendin’ to be the boss bootlegger, makin’ us pvt up our coin and then stealin’ our stuff? You greasy crook, you double-crossed your own crowd!” “You lie!” howled Steinemann. outa here!” ‘““Va-a-a-a-a! I’m tellin’ the truth!” “ Get outa here, you dirty little slob-- there’s ladies present!” “Get out, hey? Ya-ya-a-a-a-a! We'll see! I suppose you didn’t make us put all our coin in your bootleg game, did ya? I suppose you didn’t make us bring that cargo up on the ship, did ya? I suppose you didn’t steal them movin’ vans for your- self, did ya? Ya-a-a! You traitor—you Judas—you double-crosser, you spy, you sneak, you robber—”’ “Steinemann!” shouted Paula in des- peration. “ And you, whatever your name is ~-how dare you create this scene in my house?”’ © Right’s right!” defied the high voice stubbornly. “I’m in the right. We'll get this crook if we have to swing for it. And you, you imitation society jane, how about them spies and snoops you’ve got hangin’ around here? Ya-a-a-a! You crowd of _ ~ double-crossers, crooks, holdouts—we'll see about you! We'll see!” “ Get ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. A door slammed violently. Steve was already running, leaving Beth behind. He raced into the house, up the stairs, and into the living room. Steinemann’s flabby face was white as his collar. His soft hands trembled. He leaned against a bookcase, mouth open, eyes stricken, looking piteous and dazed, like a fish yanked out of placid waters and puffing at the gills. Paula was seated on a chair, wringing her hands. Steve came to a halt in front of her. The accuser had gone. “Where is he? Who is he?” demanded Steve, to Paula. Steinemann gurgled and managed to” point a pudgy finger toward the street. Steve whirled on him. ~ “Get out of here! I’ve heard enough from you and about you!” Steve walked to the door and opened it. “ Git!” “This ain’t your house!” demurred Steinemann. : “No; it’s not yours, either. I’ve got just about enough authority to tell you and all the rest of your bootleggers and hijackers to get out and stay out! Now, go!” Steinemann turned appealingly to the woman in the chair. “Paula! Paula! You ain’t gonna let this guy get away with this, are you?” Paula bowed her head.. “IT am!” she replied, coldly. ““ Oh.” Steinemann’s little eyes narrowed. “You, too, eh? Goin’ back on a pal, eh? Ah, nix! Njx, Paula! I can’t believe it! My God, I couldn’t stand it!” Steve waved the door impatiently. ‘When it comes to going back on pals, how about those moving vans?” he inquired, opening the wound. “ You got Paula and _the others to invest in that boatload of stuff and then you hijacked it! You’ve got your nerve, coming here after that!” Steinemann’s mouth wobbled. He licked his lips. Suddenly he swung out his arms in ah appealing gesture. “What of it? All that I’ve got is Paula’s, if she’ll only take it!” He turned toward her with a glance which registered tenderness combined with uncertainty. His voice broke as he bawled: “ Aw, Paula, you didn’t know it, but all them things—everything I’ve done—was cS (E{e) — €omichoo tee o> y- orn ~ ae ee