Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? heaved a sigh of satisfaction not unmixed wh envy. “At least you'll not have Ter- hune with his scientific stunts and mechan- ical mind-readers butting in on this case.”’ “Tow about yourself?” The inspector baited and bent a quizzical gaze upen his companion. “ Going to quit before the end of the first round?” “ Quit?” McCarty flashed. “ Well, you know, sir, that I’n not in # except maybe te testify against the lad for breaking and emtering. I’ve nothing to do with the mur ( der nor the solving of it.” “ But yea’re itching for a chance, aren’t yea, you old scout?” The other smiied. ‘$9 swear you in as a special officer to- merrow, just as I did on the last case you got yourself tnixed up in since you left the force. Caine on, now.” McCarty’s eyes shone and he squared his massive shoulders with proud elation 3s they entered the reom where the master of the house lay. He was officially at work again, and the inhabitants of the instalment- plan suburban colony in which he had in- vested his swvings and from which he drew his modest revenue might run the place to suit themselves until the case was fim- ished. He was back in the old game! ‘When they opened the door of the study they found that its only occupants were the dead man and the wretched youth, who ill cringed in his chair, to one arm of which he had now been securely hand- cuffed. At-sight of the inspector’s face he ‘uttered a sharp ejaculation and cowered farther down. .- “Well, well!” Inspector Druet searched his countenance keenly. “It seems to me we've met Nefore, my friend. “No, sir! Youse got me wrong—” '“ Alave I? We've got you mugged down at ‘headquarters; I never forget a face. Have you done time? What’s your name? Speak up!” -“ Joe Bodansky,” the youth muttered sullenly. ‘I did one stretch in de reform’ tory ‘cause de gang I traveled wit’ swiped some lead pipe, but I ditin’t have notin’ to do wit’ it! Dis is de foist toime—” “ Never mind; thought I had you right. I'll get your stery down-town later.” In- spector Druet turned to McCarty and in- — 295 dicated the body. “Is this the way it was when you saw it first, Mac?” “Yes. I was the third one to see it as far as we know; Joe, here, was first, then Clancy and then me. It don’t look as if those. flatfeet up-stairs had disturbed it any except that the gun was lying nearer jo the hand, almost touching the fingers—this way.” ? McCarty stooped and moved the pesi- tion of the pistol a trifle. ‘“He sure got his with a vengeance, didn’t he?” the inspector remarked. A quick gleam of light came into Mc- Carty’s own eyes. ‘““ Maybe he did, sir,”’ he vouchsafed. “There seems to have been a bit of a struggle here; look, Mac,” the other said suddenly. The strip of tapestry which lay atong the center of the refectory table hed been pulled awry at the end near which the man had fallen and it was evident that only the heavy lamp which stood upon it had pre verted it from bemg swept te the ficor, but there were no other signs of disorder in the rocm. “Yes, sir,” McCarty agreed somewhat doubtfully. ‘He weuldn’t have had time to catch at it im falling, after that shot hit him, but maybe whoever it was did it might have twisted that table cover in rage or excitement before they fired and killed him. ”? “And you think Creveling was the sort of man to stand calmly and wait without raising a hand to defend himself while his guest worked his own nerve up to the point of murder?” The inspector sbrugged. ‘““ Come along, let’s go up and see what tke others have found out.” The patrol wagon clattered up to the entrance at that moment and Joe Bodan- sky, obviously relieved to be removed from the immediate vicinity of the dead man even in so grim and forbidding a vehicle, was consigned to the care of its officials. After it had departed the inspector aad his freshly appointed assistant mounted the great staircase tobe met at the tap by Clancy and two detectives from the bor- ough headquarters. The latter were none too pleased to find an inspector frem the rl JOO (S = Original from THE OHIO STATE UNTWE S C@