Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

-548 them,” McCarty asseverated sternly. “ If you’re not more frank with me than this fellow here has been it’s likely to go as hard with you as it will with him. Who had supper with Mr. Creveling here last night?” ‘““T don’t know, sir, strike me pink! No more does Sarah. We're paid to do our work and keep our place, and we’ve done both, as Mr. Creveling ’imself would tell you if ’e was alive to do it. Mr. Creveling has entertained gentlemen ’ere now and again, but we didn’t know he expected any one last night. Has Mrs. Creveling been sent for, sir?” ‘“ She is here.” “Here!” Sarah threw up her hands. ** And her room’s not in order, and me with all that lobster and stuff from the caterer’s to clean up! Let me pass! Police or no, I’ve got my work to do. I don’t know anything about what happened to poor Mr. Creveling, and you needn’t be afraid I'll run away. You'll find me here when you want me!” ; McCarty opened his lips as if to speak, then thought better of it and obediently stepped aside, but he gazed after the wo- man’s departing figure with a quizzical look in his twinkling eyes. When she had dis- appeared he turned once more to the butler. “ How long have you and your wife been employed here?” “Three years,” Rollins replied. never worked for a nicer family—in Amer- ica, that is. Always extra ’elp when they entertained, and I could ’ave ’ad a second footman any time I’d wanted to ask for one. mixed up in scandal at our time of life, and we’ve always been so particular about our positions, too!” “Where does this sister of yours live, Rollins?”. McCarty cut short the now of lamentation. ‘‘ Just across the park, sir, in West Ninety-Fourth Street, a door or two from Columbus Avenue. Ill write the address down for you.” The butler’s hands fumbled shakily in his pockets. ‘‘ Her name is Mrs. William Carroll, and she can tell you that both Sarah and me were with her all night.” McCarty smiled to himself. He would ce I’ve This will be a bad job for us, getting — ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. have surer proof than that, for the engine and hose company which his particular crony, Dennis Riordan, adorned with his presence was located in the same precinct; Denny would have the best of reasons for knowing if there had been a fire at two - that morning. “Tis just a matter of form,” McCarty remarked. ‘“‘ Now, Rollins come clean! That stuff about keeping your place is all right, but you are in a position to know the truth, and I want it. the family conversation at table, whether you wanted to listen or not; did you ever hear Mr. Creveling speak of any one he hated or who hated him? Was there any one who would be glad to get him out of the: way?” Hill had followed the cook kitchenward, and Rollins’s gaze traveled past his ques- tioner to the shadowed turn in the hall as he hesitated. Finally he spoke. ‘ Both Mr. and Mrs. Creveling was too ’ighly bred to discuss their affairs before any of the ’ousehold, sir. °’E was a very forceful man, and I’ve no doubt made enemies, but none that could ’ave wished ’im out of the way, though there was one that ’e had ‘igh words with one night not a fortnight ago.” “Who was that?” McCarty demanded. “ One of his intimate friends?” 7 The butler nodded. “It was Mr. Douglas Waverley, sir, said. ” he CHAPTER IX. MC CARTY PAYS A VISIT. “ ELL, well! So we have our friend and confrére, Mr. McCarty, with us once more! Are you going to lend us your valuable assistance in this case?” A tall, spare, slightly bald, slightly stoop-shouldered figure detached himself from the group about the throne chair as McCarty made his reappearance in the - reception-hall and advanced a step or two with outstretched hand. There was amused condescension in his alert, self-confident manner and a hint of Origina il fro BAGO is You’ve heard all. clo@oolK SoA <—-@ CO THE OHIO STATE |