Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

842 t help, Tl let you know.” : “Do let me know,” he urged, as they set out. - When he left the girl, soon after nine, on the plea that he must meet a friend arriv- ing at Grand Central, Harvey felt that he had done well by himself. He must not be impatient; he must proceed with the ut- most caution—make no false steps and— well, his hopes ran high. He had been at home not more than a quarter of an hour when Dost called on the wire to say that, so far as the papers ‘Were concerned, everything was QO. K. “Now,” the lawyer continued, ‘‘ you had better get busy first thing to-morrow and find the sort of place we spoke about.” “T can give a look around at noon, or after work,’ Harvey said. ‘“ But—well— I’m a little short of jack. Tl have to cough up for the first week’s rent, you know. And pay day is three days off.” , “Tll meet you at lunch and slip you something,” Dost promised. ‘“ Don’t worry about that part of it.” | “ All right,” said Harvey, relieved. “ I’ll see what’s offered in the papers before I go t6 bed. Probably can land something right away as long as I don’t intend to stay there.” : “Sure. Easy. Well, good night.” Dost hung up and Harvey turned to the fur- nished rooms column of the Telegram. VII. Ir must be admitted that Harvey’s oc- casioned contacts with Merle next day gave rise to certain qualms. The man whom he was about to victimize appeared distraught and half ill. This was partly due to a heavy session of night work which had not ended until mid- night, partly to worry over the plight of Clare. Harvey stifled his self-reproach by think- ing, “Well, nothing has happened yet,” and ‘“‘He’ll never be any the worse off as Jong as he doesn’t know about it.” He knew he was deluding himself. Plenty had happened and Merle would be a lot worse off. However, Mr. Sykes certainly fine of you. If there’s any way you can ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. intended to see the thing through. In fact, he squirmed at the thought that Dost would probably insist upon that. He had Harvey where he wanted him, in a way; could make matters very un- pleasant for his associate, if he chose to do so. And Harvey did not doubt for an in- stant that the other would put on the screws if it should seem expedient for any reason. Dost had a big stake and Harvey knew he would not give it up. At noon, he slipped out a bit early so to avoid explanations to Merle and hurried to the rendezvous Dost had mentioned. The latter was there already and at once plunged into the business that had brought them together. “Pick up any old room, so long as the address sounds respectable,’”’ he instructed. “Get that letter written the minute you have done so. If you can find a place this noon, come around to my office after five and dope out your stuff there. In the meantime, find out how old Merle Went- worth is, exactly. Where he was born and ali that. You can manage it one way or another. We may need that information later on; it’s best to be prepared.” They lunched briefly and Harvey set out on his quest for a new address. He did not have far to search for what he required and before the time when he was due back at the office, he had engaged a room at 749 West Eleventh Street, a section which was not frequented by anybody he knew. He took the place in the name of Merle Wentworth, paid two weeks advance rent, and explained that he would occupy the quarters only spasmodically, when his busi- ness of traveling salesman permitted him to remain in New York. His idea was to spend the night there occasionally and keep a few bits of per- sonal property in the room. The landlady, Mrs. Keller, saw nothing strange in the transaction. Anyhow, she had her two weeks’ rent in her hand and that was the main point. That left Harvey free to proceed to Dost’s office after work. But first he would try to get the information desired in refer- ence to Merle’s age and birthplace. In which connection, he had a bright thought comichbooks Gor