Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

428 had seen him cleaning when I peered into the kitchen after breakfast. I decided that I would take Peter’s boat and row over to the town, where I would doubtless find Uncle Gregory. and be able to assure him that he might return safely. It was about nine thirty, and a brilliant, cool day outside promised to put some life into my expedition. It was a relief to see the sun shine once more, and I felt that a brisk row would drive away all these troub- lesome mysteries. I needed it, for 1 felt unusually stupid—from my disturbed night, I suppose, and it was with an effort that I pulled myself together to make the trip. As I passed the table on my way out of the room, I noticed the whisky-bottle standing there and it occurred to me that a small drink might brace me up, so I took a swallow from the bottle before I remem- bered that Murphy had done the same thing, and put it down hastily. On going out into the hall, I noticed _ that the door of my. uncle’s room was shightly ajar, and I don’t know what im- pulse made me stop and go in. Perhaps it was because I wanted to see if all was right; at all events, I went in and looked around. The room was as it had been on my first and only visit; but two things struck me at once as unusual: the bed had not been slept in; and a heavy dresser had been moved from its position, and put in another corner of the room; where it stood rather awkwardly just in front of a closet door. The first was not so unnatural; my great- uncle had anticipated an attack last night and had doubtless been sitting up to watch for it; but I couldn’t see the sense of the other. oe | sat. down, in, anold horsehair rocker to consider the matter, for my legs felt un- accountably tired. My thoughts soon drift- ed off, however, back to Shirley: what was this thing that she did not want to tell me, and which, to use her own words, “would only confuse matters still more?’ I felt quite sure that she knew more than the rest of us and wished that she would speak. It seemed I had made a mess of securing her friendship, and she would never believe that I didn’t share Uncle Gregory’s suspicions. ~ ~~« 2 Bs inetiy Google ey a : A J ARGOSY- ALLSTORY WEEKLY, He wouldn’t leave her the money, now, that was sure, but I didn’t feel so certain that I was the winner. Even though I had . been more in his confidence than Shirley, I couldn’t feel that he really trusted me. For the tenth time I cursed the money and the necessity of getting it. I would much rather have lost the money than Shirley. Hang it all, was I in love with her? I tried to wrench my thoughts away, and make myself get up and go about the busi- ness in hand, instead of dreaming in this sentimental fashion; but my body felt as heavy as lead and my head dizzy. I leaned back against the chair, and closed my eyes. I must have slept, for I had a most remarkable dream. While I sat there in the chair, Peter and Clinch crept in and bound me hand and foot to it; then Peter covered me all over with an egg batter which hardened rapidly until I was like a plaster cast. I knew, in the queer way one knows in dreams, that they could do me no harm; but, when Peter suggested that they carry me down and bake me in the oven, I struggled and tried to get free, filled with intense horror at my impending fate. Also with the quick imagination of dreams, that leap from one idea to another with the speed and lack of direction of lightning, I already felt the heat curling me up stiffer and stiffer, and my red-hot buttons pressing into my flesh. These; and a hot band that began to tighten around my head, were what gave me the greatest dis- tress, aah 2 uecan @ cieperele Gauge get free. | Only in one hand did I retain any life, and with it I kept up a weak tapping in the hopes of obtaining rescue. It was all in vain, however, and I felt myself getting stiffer and more helpless. ‘*T think he’s done now,” remarked Peter to his grinning confederate, “ but we'll stick a fork into him, and see.” To my wild horror, he advanced with a huge teasting-fork nearly six -feet long, which he held over me. Just then, to my intense relief, I heard Shirley tapping out- side on the door and asking what was the matter. By a mighty effort I found my voice and cried loudly: ———— 7 C NEON AICS ool Ss ae CO