Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 5, 1928 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

606 perhaps he had planted a germ of en- thusiasm in Allister’s mind and that it was growing in secret, He had only this assumption on which to base his hopes during Colonel Hacket’s next visit. But the colonel’s attitude had changed. Where he had once seemed to count on Johnny’s being able to concoct a really practi- cable idea, he was now entirely indif- ferent to his employee’s efforts. ‘““T guess,” he said, ‘‘ that you'd bet- ter have another position lined up about next fall, young man.” ‘* But can’t you hang on a little while longer, colonel? Business will pick up a little during the spring and summer.” ‘““A little, yes,” said the colonel, “but not enough to carry me through another winter.” “T’m sure Allister has something up his sleeve,”-Johnny insisted. “If you could only wait until we put it through—” . The colonel shook his white head. “The only thing you have put through so far,” he replied laughingly, “is a vast quantity of highly imagi- nary financing. No,” he went on. “I hope, my boy, that your next position will be one where your chances of ad- vancement are greater. The best I can do will be to recommend you highly to any prospective employer.” As Allister’s silence continued, Johnny had an almost irresistible de- sire to ask him flatly what he was doing and thinking about. But inas- much as it was probably too late to do anything about the Spruce Mountain Sanatorium, even if Allister were in- clined in that direction, Johnny held his peace and his tongue. Then something happened that put the finishing touch on everything. Al- lister disappeared—utterly and abso- lutely. He remained at the cabin one morn- ing when Johnny left for the station. When Johnny returned that night, he was gone. Johnny thought at first that he had - ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. wandered off into the woods and got lost, but after searching the premises the station agent decided otherwise. Not only were all of Allister’s per- sonal things gone too, but the horse and cutter as well. Not even a note had been left. Johnny knew, of course, that Allis- ter’s flight had been premeditated; nevertheless, the possibility still re- mained that the man might have got lost in the unfamiliar countryside. Johnny made numerous inquiries of the neighbors without result, and that evening he went back to the station and telegraphed or telephoned all the towns within a radius of twenty-five miles. Failing to get any news from that source, he made an all night search, with the aid of a hired rig, of all the roads leading out of Richville. He went to work in the morning, tired and considerably apprehensive because he could not tell what insane inspiration might have taken hold of Allister. The circumstances were com- plicated rather than clarified when a strange man drove up to the station about noon with the horse and cutter. “Where'd you find it?” Johnny de- manded. “Feller drove into town last night, jest before train time,” the stranger explained. “‘ He give me ten dollars to keep the horse overnight an’ fetch her back here to you to-day.” “What town do you come from?” Johnny inquired. 7 EeCed. Mecca was one of the towns on Colonel Hacket’s railroad about thirty miles from Richville, in the direction of the Junction. ! “Ts the man who gave you the money still in town?” “No. Reckon he left on the night train.” When No. 2 came up from the In- ternational line the next night Johnny called to the conductor. “Say, Tom,” he asked, “ do you re- COMIC OOKS (C@)