Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? Mr. Alexander’s eyes shifted. .“T presume you refer to the unfortu- nate sobriquet of Mr. Creveling’s college days, and which erroneously clung to him ~for years after he had reached maturity,’’ he said. “ Irresponsible youth and the posses- sion of two much money have formed a dangerous combination before now, but my .. partner has been unknown in the bright light district, save at an occasional theater party with his wife and their friends, for several years.” “Mr. Alexander,” the inspector bent forward suddenly, ‘“‘ when I asked you just now.if you knew who Mr. and Mrs. Creve- ling’s intimates were, you evaded the ques- tion; in the face of this. tragedy they are bound to be discovered and fully investi- gated. You said also that you seldom discussed anything but business with your ‘partner and that your guardianship of his _wife ended a year after their marriage. Does that mean, too, that your social rela- tionship with them was interrupted? That, in fact, there was any estrangement between you and them?” “Most assuredly not!” The banker " squared his somewhat narrow shoulders. “ My niece made her home with me prior ‘to her marriage and the greatest possible affection has always existed between us. As their only relative I have been a fre- quent visitor here, but I have already told you that their friends are in a different - Circle—”’ As he spoke the slow, measured tread of . heavy feet in the hall outside told of the femporary departure of Eugene Creveling from his home, before his final returr. for the brief scene in which he would be the principal but silent actor, and involuntar- ily his late partner paused, shuddering The remaining detective from borough headquarters appeared in the doorway, with Clancy behind him, and both stood await- ing further orders. ‘“ There’s nothing more for either of you - to do here now,” the inspector announced. Sam, have your report sent in to -me down-town; Clancy, make your own to the ‘Old Man-and I'll look it over later. If ‘that young crook tries to get hold of a 308 shyster lawyer, ask the commissioner to stall him and keep him quiet until I get back to Center Street myself.”’ As the two men turned to go, McCarty went to the door. “You'll not be needing me now for a bit, inspector?” The statement was a question asked with the ingratiation which only the ex-roundsman could command. “‘ Vll have another look over the ground—” ““Go as far as you like, Mac,” Inspector Druet responded heartily, once more to Mr. Alexander. ‘‘ Who were the Crevelings’ intimate friends, as far as you know? This Mrs. Douglas Waverly, for instance, whom Mrs. Creveling is visit- ing; do you know anything about her?” The banker smiled slightly in a some- what relieved fashion. ‘“‘ She was born a Preston, of Washing- ton.” He spoke as though that was suffi- cient answer in itself. the son of old Monro Waverly, the tight- fisted Scot who developed a passion for speculation late in life, in the eighties and amassed millions. Besides Broadmead, the Douglas Waverlys have a town house a block or two below here.” CHAPTER V. THE NINE OF DIAMONDS. HO were the others in the Crevel- ing set?” ‘“‘ An Irish aristocrat, if there be such a thing left, named O'Rourke, and his wife, whom I believe has a title in her. own right, but refuses to use it, at least in this country; then there is a Mr. and Mrs. Ford, and I believe a Mrs. Culp or Kip, or some such name—really, you must ask my niece—”’ ‘‘ We'll leave her out of it for the time being,” the inspector interrupted crisply. “You said that Creveling was a man’s man; who were his associates?”’ “He belonged to most of the best clubs in town, but I am not in a position to tell you with whom he associated.” The note of defense was again evident in the bank- er’s tones. ‘If he had any hobby beyond an innate love of beautiful things and a then tured. “Her husband is — gina al fro Ma eORMAC Zz) i) NOO CO© mm JHIO STATE UNTVERSITY