Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

386 “ Didn’t want the goods found on him. Then it’s stolen money, Miss Aileen.” ‘Don’t!’ he heard her gasp. “Tf they’re following us,” he went on, ‘“‘ under some idea that we’re connected with the gang—”’ “ Please—please—Mr. Hildreth!” “You see we’ve got the money — and we're strangers—broke!” he laughed short- ly. “I wish you could give it to me, and then disappear until—” “Where? I haven’t a dollar!” She took his arm now at last, timidly looking up. ‘“‘ No, I’m going to stick by you. We could explain—we could offer to give it back—to the rightful owner.” “Yes, but meantime—the central office men hounding you—I could not stand that. You’d spend the night in jail, at leaat.”’ They were talking more easily now. Hil- dreth’s glance back had not discovered the keen-eyed man who had appeared to follow him at the avenue entrance of the Plan- tagenet. ‘“There’s a possibility,” Hildreth mut- tered, ‘“ that it is the crooks’ money, and in that case—but it can’t be! There was a job somewhere, but the funny thing is that the hotel people don’t appear to know it yet. Or else everything’s being covered to save the name of the house. Of course they don’t relish publicity.” ‘Do you suppose we’d learn anything at the police station? You—as a reporter— could ask a bit, couldn’t you?” He ap- peared to doubt, and the girl went on with practical, clear-voiced sanity: “ I am carry- ing the money. You could find out what you could and meet me. Oh, it’s ridiculous with this fortune on us that we can’t even drop in some drug-store and buy a soda!” She laughed a trifle wildly. “T don’t know,” muttered Hildreth; “I mustn’t get you in it.” x. “ But, see here! Suppose there was some sort of mistake. That this Milly was in- nocent—that she isn’t even a crook at all, and was just held because some money had disappeared. We ought to know, you know.” He stopped in the misty sleet turning to snow and considered. | ‘“‘ Well, the central station is just three ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. blocks ahead. You walk ahead, cross the street, and keep moving, but watch for me to come out. If, by any chance, I can talk to, or even see these people—perhaps it will help: But, please, no sentimentality, Miss—Aileen-of-the-Storm—your Milly is probably the worst of the trio.” But the girl of the storm stood watching Hildreth’s tall form disappear within the gloomy portals of the central station with a queer little tremor of her firm chin. She walked slowly on a block in the sleety snow, then back, around the corner, anywhere to avoid attracting attention as a loiterer. She was wondering after a while at Hil- dreth’s long absence, when, as she crossed the street again, a block distant from the police station, she was aware of another wo- man whe had stepped from a dripping hall- way to watch her now with deliberate in- tensity. It occurred to Miss Travers that she had passed her before unnoticing. But now she saw a tall, heavily veiled girl, who spoke with studied directness, as if satisfied after her scrutiny. “You are the girl who was with him, ain’t you?”. ‘* Pardon me—but with whom?”’ “The man who found the money.” “The money?” Miss Travers looked clearly, striving to retain the impression of suffering ruthlessness in the other’s all but hidden face. “* 'Yes—the man who just went in there!” The stranger pointed swiftly. ‘I don’t re- member you, but him—I saw him pick it up—on the street-car. Oh, yes—and now he’s here, ain’t he?—tryin’ to put that job on Eddie! Oh, I know—but the central office men don’t! They don’t even know a job was pulled—nor the hotel folks don’t, either!” ‘“‘ What,” retorted Miss Travers clearly, “do you mean by all this?” The tall young woman seemed to set her | teeth with a snap. She almost flung a furred arm in the other’s face. “Don’t bull me—you know. That boy with you got the money! And I don’t care —good Heaven, I hope it chokes him! If they hook this on Eddie, it means life—my kid—Eddie. He’s done time twice—see!”’ ““No, I don’t,” said Miss Travers. COMICEDOO© ie) S (C(O) mM