Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

534 They had no reason to believe that I would offer any objections.” “What I would like to know, too,” questioned Molly, “is where they met, and when they planned this step? It could not have been arranged in ad- vance. “Tam certain that Mr. Rich had no warning of her arrival here. His sur- prise at seeing you and her was too unfeignedly genuine.” “And that goes for Gladys, too,” agreed J. P. “‘ It was only by a fluke, as you might say, that she came with me. She had made all arrangements to stay with some friends at Santa Fe, but at the last moment they had sick- ness in the house, and she had to come along. “What I think,” he pondered, “is that they must have met somewhere, and made up their minds to this thing on the spur of the moment.” * And what I think,”’ said Molly con- temptuously, “is that your man, Craw- ford, is a clumsy liar.” “What do you mean?” Blair laid down his knife and fork, and stared at her. “Just what I say. The facts are all against this elopement story. In the first place, there could have been no preconcerted arrangement for anything of the sort. “The only time they saw each other was on the street to-day when we were all together, and certainly no one could say there was anything loverlike in their attitude there. In fact, Mr. Rich started to congratulate your daughter on her engagement to Crawford. “On top of that,” continued Molly, “as you have already suggested, there was no reason for such an escapade. You would have offered no objections. “ But, more than all else, two things convince me that this story is untrue. If Norman Rich could not have been tempted to desert my interests by the bait you dangled before him, neither would he have sacrificed his loyalty in this fashion. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “That is one thing. And the other” —she hesitated, and a slight tinge of color rose to her cheek—*is.that he was wholly and devotedly in love with me.” “What did happen then?” de- manded Blair sharply, pressing his clenched fists down on the table. “What did happen?” repeated Molly. “Tl tell you. Norman Rich came out to the castle here about twi- light. I have already learned by tel- ephone the time he left Salem and also when he passed through Rio Rita, so, knowing that he had no accident or mis- adventure on the way out here as one of my men has been over the road since, I can estimate his arrival almost exactly. “ And just at that time, your daugh- ter was out walking in the grounds. The lodgekeeper saw her strolling about down near the gates. What more probable then, but that they encount- ered one another ?”’ “Well, isn’t that just what I say?” broke in J. P. “ They met, and on the spur of the moment decided to get married.” “Not at all. They met and Gladys suggested that he get out and walk back to the house with her. They were old friends and had many things to talk about. Maybe, she wanted to ask him what he meant by attempting to congratulate her. “As I see it,” Molly went on, “ he assented, and they started off on the footpath through the grounds. But their movements were under surveil- lance. And as they strolled along, they were seized and abducted.” “By whom?” demanded Blair. “ By agents of your man, Crawford, and the same gang that has already twice tried to assassinate Norman Rich. They were lurking in the grounds, waiting for the chance to get him or me. And when they saw him and Gladys together, they made the mis- take of taking her for me, and grabbed them both. CORMMICLOOOKS (C@