Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

414 ARGOSY -——but to get out of that locality at all hazards, the rash youth who had attempted to emulate Ulysses suddenly faced his erst- while Circe, who stuck her head through the door, demanding: ‘* Are you still there?”’ ““ Haven’t wiggled,” moaned the young man, clutching the legs of his fake tacks beneath the chair-seat, and wondering how , futile the automatic up his sleeve could be _ without its inventor’s knowledge. The figure coming straight down the path was now in full glare of the cluster of Coal- port arc lights. Jimmy, on arriving, had thought Coalport the himmest little town in the world. It was, but not by night. He felt a sudden relief. Then, paradoxi- cally, the scene of the office bookcase smote him again. What if the wearer of those sinister shoes were coming down the lane? “In case it is that rooster,” decided Jim- my, grimly, “ I’ll be ready! The deadly weapon came down, respon- sive to his fluxing of the heavy rubber bands. He balanced it in his right palm. Then he leaked back and fairly gloated. ‘This is ric! Here comes old King Brady himself. He’s been jumping in and out on my spoor ever since I first jumped off the trolley.’’ There was a flash from the figure-—a heliograph from the arc lights, whose cousins in front of the Olympian Theater had betrayed the man on the porch. “With a smoke-wagon sticking out in front, eh?” muttered Jimmy. “ Well, Ulysses Indigo, as there’s no other house on this line and only two ladies live here, he must be after you!” TABLEAUX VIVANTS. Characters (off-stage): Mrs. Baldwin— “Vivian, where 1s Norman’s latest photo- graph? I can’t find it anywhere!” (On-stage—upper center, in door leading from porch, bearing cup, half turning to speak over shoulder): Vivian—‘ Mother, I know just where it is, but you can’t find it in the dark. Wait a minute, and P’ll—” (On-stage—lower center, coming up porch steps which face door in which stands Vivian, his back to audience, facing Vivian, but looking at a would-be Ulysses and speak- ing to a man registered aS James Stuart): Marshal Tredway—“ Hands up!” (Left-center-stage, otherwise almost in line AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. between Vivian and Tom, sitting in chair, James Indigo Stuart, who obeys as he re- plies): Jimmy—‘ Who shot you in the ear with TNT?” CHAPTER XII. * BAFFLED! ARSHAL TOM TREDWAY wore the conventional costume of the stage “heavy” from time immefnorial—or at least from Tony Pastor’s time. He was attired in a black slouch hat, a black mus- tache, dark clothes, and, as said, carried a deadly and naked weapon. James Indigo Stuart wore a solemn look. ‘“ Please don’t speak to me in such a tone as that,” replied Vivian, as she turned her head and saw who had spoken. ‘ What on earth is the matter? I’m only bringing a guest of mother’s and mine a cup of teat ‘Tm the little angleworm this big roos- ter is looking for,” said Jimmy gravely. ‘“Don’t worry. I’m not looking for him and sha’n’t bite him. But, what shall I do with my hands, now they are up?” ‘* Keep them up. Stand up and turn around. I want that gun that you’ve got up your sleeve! Excuse me, Miss Vivian. I can’t take any chances.” __ “ You've taken all mine!” said Jimmy, complying. ‘No back talk.” Marshal Tredway, to emphasize the order, jammed his gun in Jimmy’s back. He felt the right sleeve, thoroughly. Then the left. ‘All right. said Jimmy. Marshal Tredway reddened. Honest to the core, his greatest fault lay in that he took things too seriou ly, when doing what he thought was his duty. He fumbled at Jimmy’s clothing with a dexterity any detective might, have envied, meanwhile repeating: “I said, ‘No back talk.’ ” ‘“T heard you. But you got me wrong. You ought to do your dictating to Miss Baldwin. I can tell you she’s a very com- petent—”’ He stopped, not because of his position, Come round in front then,” NOOKS (C(O) (C(O) mM