The Argosy, December 1905 — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

112 with me. I told him that it would be just as well to let the matter rest. One never knew when it might be politic to put the president’s nephew in jail. When that nephew is sent along to take the part of acting president, you will appreciate, Alvin, that the value of the little weapon is rather increased.” He chuckled slightly, and ended with: “ Going to throw me out, are you?” Duncan thought rapidly before reply- ing. What did his part demand now? Palpably, Chambers was speaking the truth. He would hardly dare bring forth such an accusation without solid foundation. Would the real Alvin have been frightened or would he have been de- fiant? The ex-architect took the mid- dle course. “ Well, if it is true, Chambers, what of it?” “Just this: Broadfield is ready to prosecute you at a day’s notice. It won’t be any civil action, Alvin. It will be a criminal charge. You'll go.to jail like any common crook; you'll be locked up in a cell, and if lawyers can do it, yowll go up. “Do you understand that? I don’t say that you can be sent up for a term of years—I wish sincerely that I could. But we'll put up a case that'll raise the hair from your head, and we’ll stir up a scandal that will do more to blacken this Fraim-Alvin-Barrington management of the International than you can imagine. Do you realize that, Alvin? ” Dunean studied him for a minute. If the whole story was true, he knew that Chambers was quite correct. And still —the man did not seem quite sure of himself somehow. “ And I presume I’m asked something to have this kept quiet?” “You are asked to break your en- gagement and leave town for good.” “ Really ? ” “ And if you are fool enough to re- fuse é “Well?” “You'll do it at your own risk and to the sorrow of this company in its pres- ent form.” “Then I do refuse!” said Duncan THE ARGOSY. suddenly. “I refuse as flatly as words can put it. I stay where 1 am, and you may do as you please.” His fist came down hard on the desk. Now he would know the strength of Chambers’ threat! If the second vice-president arose and left quietly, there was indeed danger. If not Chambers had turned purple. “You think that it is a bluff, do you?” he fairly shouted. “ By George, Alvin, we’ll show you that it is not. I don’t care what you may have been ad- vised about the possibility of returning that money, or what influence your standing in this company would have on the courts. “T tell you we'll jail you—if it’s only for an hour. We’ll stir up such a row i Duncan leaned back and laughed. Kvidently there were several flaws in the threat. Chambers leaped to his feet, trembling with rage. The veins in his forehead swelled and his lips drew back, baring the teeth in unlovely fashion; the second vice-presi- dent had fallen into one of his notorious fits of temper. | ‘And even if we never used it against you, do you think I’d let you marry Beatrice, you fool? Do you think n “We are going to omit that name from the argument, Chambers.” “Do you think that you are going to get that girl and her money and all that it would mean to the Morley crowd? By ~ heaven, youre not! ” “That’s enough.” “You’re going to break that engage- ment and leave this town, if I have to wring your infernal neck.” Duncan’s tone was sharp and threat- ening now, and told of his increasing anger; but Chambers, in his towering rage, had passed all bounds of reason. “You'll get out!” he panted. “ You will get out, if I have to strangle you with my own hands, you whippersnap- per! Youwll get out, I tell you! I’m not a man to play with, Alvin. Better people than you have learned that before now. You'll get out of this com- pany and away from that girl, and ve COMICMOOOKS (C@