Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

612 “Oh, come off your high horse and come down to cases. I have the goods on you, and you can guess who [ represent.” “ Go ahead,” I told him. “You think you are smart, eh? Pretty smooth work. While you let Peter Robin- son think he was stealing his father’s formu- la himself, you slyly snatched it for your own benefit, and substituted sheets of paper containing a lot of scientific balderdash that woaldn’t fool a child.” “Tt don’t understand you,” I returned. “Oh, yes, you do. Peter Robinson saw his father place that formula in a certain book. He thought that he was stealing it, and did take some sheets of paper you left there as a blind in something like his father’s handwriting. While he was de- luding himself with this false hokum, you had the real formula—and you still have it. Now let’s get down to cases. What’s your price?” It is needless to say that I was so dum- founded that I could hardly speak. Peter had certainly stolen the formula—whatever he might have palmed off on the dope ring. “T don’t know anything about it,” I said, ‘“‘and I won’t discuss the matter. I will say, however, that I haven’t got the formula, and haven’t the slightest idea where it is. I hope that Peter gave you a dirty deal.’’ “So that’s your game?” “Yes,” I said. “You refuse to name a price for that document?” “T haven’t got it!” I cried. He laughed, as if at the antics of a child. “ Well,’ he drawled, “ we'll give you a few days to think it over. We must get the original copy of that formula so that, for one thing, scientists in our pay may study how to fight a possible effect of what- ever Robinson has cooked up.” He tossed a card on the table. “When you are ready to talk business let me hear from you,” said my visitor, getting up to go. “Tl accompany you downstairs,” I in- sisted, and I did so, though he smilingly protested there was no necessity, and showed him out the front lobby doors. If there were any Federal Narcotic De- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. partment sleuths on the lookout, here, [ thought, was their chance, for this chap was most certainly a representative of the dope ring. The next day I called off my usual ball game, though the Giants were starting an interesting series, for I wanted to have all the time in the world to meet Julia. Also I had to make arrangements for our wed- ding and dig up a best man. You may be sure I picked on my one old friend in the city, Harry Garrett, now interne at the Polyclinic Hospital. He promised over the phone to meet me at the Albertson at four o’clock. What is that old gag about the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes astray? Well, Harry was late, of course; some doctor he was assisting with special work taking longer than he expected, so he didn’t put in an appearance until after half past four. | We hustled into a taxicab, and at Fif- tieth Street we were blocked, and twice on Forty-Second Street we were held up, both at Broadway and Fifth Avenue. I could have killed the driver and sued the company—and expect to win on both counts from the jury. If I’d had a pistol I'd have taken a pot shot at the traffic policeman. Might as well walk in the first place. I grumbled and swore something terrible, but that never had any effect upon a policeman’s whistle in New York. The result was we drew up before Grand Central Station just at five o’clock. I hopped out of the taxi, overpaid the driver in my haste, and ran into the station, Harry at my heels. Alas, there were four trains coming in at five o’clock, and no one seemed to have ever heard of Clifton Falls. Finally I se- cured the undivided attention of a red cap by flashing a dollar bill, and told him my trouble. “Train from Clifton Falls, sir. Yes, sir. Right this way. Track No. 21,” he said. By this time we had lost all of ten min- utes, and I could see a picture of Julia im- patiently waiting, wondering why I wasn’t on hand to meet her? If a man couldn’t be on time on his wedding day when could you depend upon him? I prepared at least Gomichboo (G <S (E@)