Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

426 I was satisfied, for his story explained several things that had been puzzling me: Peter’s prolonged absence, and the fact that no one had come over to us by boat. So I told Peter the whole story; of our arriving to find the apparently empty house; my struggle with the burglar the first night; the finding of the wrecked boat the next day; and the man’s attempt to choke Uncle Gregory that night; my search of the house and finding the passageway the day follow- ing; and finally the arrival of “ Clinch Murphy,” the breaking open of the safe, and Clinch’s attack upon my uncle which caused his flight. It made quite a tale; and as Peter was a splendid audience, I outdid myself, end- ing in a burst of dramatic effect that left poor Peter’s eyes fairly goggling out, and his mouth opening and shutting more clam- like than ever. ~ “T]t’s dreadful!” he exclaimed. “To think of all these things happening m this quiet house, and me~away! ‘The poor young lady must have been scared to death. -Why, you might have been all choked to death in your beds.” “Tt wasn’t my Uncle Richard’s fault that we weren't,” I observed dryly. ‘“ He cer- tainly kept us on the jump most of the time, and he managed to do the disappear- ing act very successfully. I hope he has cleared out for good, now that he has what he wanted.” ‘““T hope so, indeed, sir,” echoed Peter hastily.” But what I can’t understand is why Mr. Deane hasn’t come back yet. He must surely know that he would be safe: now.”’ I thought I understood pretty well why he hadn’t conie back and might not for sev- eral hours There had been no mistaking Clinch Murphy’s intention; if ever a man meant murder he did, and I considered Uncle Gregory very sensible in making off —as he undoubtedly had done, to the town to get assistance, even though he had rather cold-bloodedly left us to deal with the situ- ation. After all, though, he had stunned the man and left him helpless, and as he seemed to be only after Uncle Gregory’s blood and not ours, it was not so selfish as it seemed. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, So I told myself, but there were several things about the affair that sfill puzz3ed me, and deep down in my mind there would lurk a suspicion that Shirley knew more about the matter than she had told. I didn’t for an instant think that she was in league with her father, for her words to my great-uncle in the library earried the_ Ting of conviction, but he might have terror- ized her into shielding him to a certain extent. Had she locked my door? The ease with which she had found the key re- curred to me unpleasantly. I pulled myself up with a jerk. Hang it all, I was becoming suspicious of every- body and everything since I had been in this cursed house. I needed a bath, a shave, and some breakfast to restore my normal outlook. Then I would consider the matter from all its angles. _ “ Peter,’”’ I said to that person who was watching me anxiously, “now is the psy- chological moment for you to spring that little surprise of yours. Or to be exact, in about forty minutes we will be down in the kitchen ready for almost anything, only let there be lots of it.” ‘Very good, sir,’ answered Peter brightening like one who sees a familiar path opening before him. “ Fk get you a breakfast as will make you wish you hadn’t to wait forty minutes for.” — CHAPTER XXIII. DREAMING, WAS bathed shaved and clothed, well within the allotted time, and felt myself again. Before I went down, I tapped on Shirley’s door. “* Come down” I called gayly. going to be a real breakfast.” There was no reply, but I theught I heard a choked sob. I listened, and heard an- other. ‘“ Shirley, what is it?” I cried. I help you?” | After a moment she answered in a muffled voice: “No, thank you. Please—please go away.” There was nothing else to-do but go “* There’s “ Can't OHIO STATE ecommicbooks. co