Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE DEVIL’S FLOWER. After perusing this letter I passed it back without comment, since the note was quite explanatory. “You notice how timid and retiring the old chap is?” said Merritt. “Ves,” I replied, “he seems a bit ashamed of being alarmed.” “The most reserved of men,” remarked Colonel Chalmers. ‘“ Yet if he desired it Robinson, who now draws an annuity from the Rockfellow Foundation, could obtain any amount of money he desired to build an extensive, modernly equipped laboratory somewhere in civilized parts. “ But he likes the quiet and seclusion he has always enjoyed up there on that isolated island on Concord Lake. He has been so much alone, I imagine, that this strange interest from strangers of which he speaks, must seem doubly suspicious.” “ Concord Lake,” I murmured, “I must have heard of it somewhere.” “Maybe not,” replied the colonel; “there are a lot of apparently lost lakes in the northern part of the State. This one is about six miles from the village of Beechwood, New York, on a jerk water railroad running from Albany called the Valley Line. I had the dickens of a time laying out your route to get there. You start to-night.” I smiled at the fact that my going was calmly taken so entirely for granted. No question was raised whether the as- signment to protect this old scientist, striv- ing toward the extermination of the poppy, was one that appealed to me or not. After all, the personal equation wasn’t to be ex- pected to enter in work where the indi- vidual was so submerged in the cause. “ Colonel Chalmers will give you further details, Dr. Warner,” said Merritt, as if in conclusion. ‘“ The best of success to your new undertaking. I don’t want any harm to come to Malcolm Robinson, and desire his work to continue uninterrupted and un- molested. You may readily see it is of the greatest importance. In an emergency get in touch with us.” We retired to Colonel Chalmers’s office and the latter chuckled as he commented or. Merritt’s final words. “He means don’t bother us when alive, 597 or with spirit rappings if dead!’’ he laughed. ‘Well, one thing sure, the old boy will be silent for a week after spilling all that opium information for you. Why, you might ransack a library and not learn as much about the situation as he told you. ‘Regarding Robinson, that great old scientist may, or may not, find a pestilence to destroy the poppy, but there is a chance, and we mustn’t have it interfered with. I’ve worried my head off since we received that letter wondering how any of the dope ring knew of his efforts. I give it up. There may be danger, Warner—” “All the better, that will but add zest to my visit,” I returned heartily. ‘“ Maybe the old bird is imagining things, afraid of his own shadow?” “TI hope so. Now iisten to your route as I have outlined it.” The details I jotted down on a slip of paper as they were given to me. “I would advise that you take a re- volver with you, and a supply of tobacco and books. You may need the former—I trust not—but in that lonely country you’d be lost without Lady Nicotine and read- ing matter. I’ve hunted through that country, and the supplies you find in those crossroad roads are antiques.” “ Does Robinson expect me?” I asked, “TI thought the chief said he got off a letter this morning? No? Well, you may arrive before it,” said the colonel, “ but you can explain your presence. After a few weeks write in a guarded manner to me— at this name and address—telling me the way things are going. I don’t think it is necessary for you to use a code book.” Colonel Chalmers scribbled a name and address on a slip of paper and handed it to me. “This seems unduly careful, but we might as well be on the safe side,” he ex- plained. “Ii the powers that be of the dope ring actually have learned that Robin- son is working toward a formula to destroy the poppy and opium at the same time, there isn’t anything at which they’d stop - to prevent him.” “That will only make things more in- teresting,” I said, “ but really, colonel, this danger is very vague to me.” Gomichbooks (<0)