Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? down each side and one in the middle, each set in sharply defined diamond-shaped indentations, so that the cigarette-case it- self bore a startling resemblance to the nine of diamonds; startling to McCarty’s mind at least because of that other nine of diamonds, torn and blood-stained, which he had found in the room where Eugene Creveling came to his death. CHAPTER XI. “a FISH TO FRY.” ENNIS RIORDAN, dragging a chair after him, emerged from the engine- house of Company No. 023, and set- tled himself in the mild, balmy sunshine. Down the vista of the street lined by tall - flats the trees of the park, their tops just burgeoning into feathery green, formed a delicate touch of color in the monotonous, faded brick and stone, and the fireman’s gray eyes rested upon them ruminatively ed as he reached for his pipe. Then his gaze - shifted with lively expectancy, and the hand groping for his pocket paused mid- way, for a familiar figure turned the corner - and strode toward him. “‘What’s up, Mac?” he asked when the figure had approached within hearing dis- tance. “I thought you were going down to Homevale to-day to evict that tenant of yours that’s driving the neighbors crazy with his cornet practise. You look as though you’d been making a night of it!” “J have.” With the privilege of a con- stant visitor McCarty reached a long arm across the threshold and, procuring another chair, placed it with its back tilted against the wall beside his friend. ‘“‘ When are you off duty the day?” “ Not till six.” Dennis eyed the other with anxious solicitude. “How much did you lose?” ; “Didn't I give up card-playing for Lent?” McCarty demanded reproachfully. “You did, but well I know what .that means as long as you can find a quiet little crap game to horn in on, or any one to flip the coins with you! ’Tis a crying shame, property or no, for a man in the prime of life to have nothing to do but gallivant 555 around town looking for trouble, and many’s the time I’ve cursed your uncle— God rest his soul!—for leaving you the money that made you resign from the force!” His manner was almost maternal, and. McCarty chuckled dryly. ‘Tis not always I have to be looking for trouble, Denny; sometimes it falls on ~ me, like that girl from the window of the Glamorgan a couple of years ago.” There was that in his tone which made Dennis’s chair come down on all four legs with a clatter on the sidewalk. “What!” he exclaimed with avidity. ‘“TIs there something big on down at head- quarters that the inspector has been after asking you to lend a hand-on? There’s been nothing in the papers, barring hold- ups, that would make Dick Turpin blush like an amateur.” “Tf there was, you’d never know it. After you’ve satisfied yourself that the championship is still safe for democracy and the G'ants aren’t developing sleeping sickness, the news of the day is finished for you,’ McCarty observed with fine scorn. “ As for my resignation from the force, Ill have you to know that it’s been tempor- arily handed back to me, and that fellow out at Homevale can toot away till he’s black in the face, for all I care! I’m back on the job again.” “What is it, Mac?” Dennis’s tone was sepulchral from suppressed excitement. “Why didn’t you let me know? I was off last night—” ““T didn’t know it myself till I nabbed a young second-story worker coming out of the window of one of those grand houses across the park, quicker than ever he went in, and learned what he found there. "Twas the body of the owner, him they used to call ‘ Million-a-Month’ Creveling along Broadway, with a hole in his breast and a .44 beside him.” McCarty detailed his n--turnal expe- rience, and Dennis listened with bated breath to the point where, while the search of the upper rooms by his crony and In- spectcr Druet was progressing, the shadow had appearvd behind them on the staircase. Then he csu'd contain himself no longer. Original froma a an O 0)(0)(O) (C S CO