The Argosy, December 1905 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN tional. Dm talking about the part you are trying to play,” said the ex-architect. “Youre attempting to enact the rdéle of the bloodthirsty anarchist, when you yourself are no more an anarchist than the man in the moon.” “Mr. Alvin “ Don’t le about it, my man. I have eyes.” He walked straight across to the visitor and confronted him at close range. “ Look squarely at me and tell me you honestly hold anarchistic views.” The man faced him fora moment and then turned away with a short laugh. “T don’t seem to be fierce enough for the part, do 1?” he muttered. “ Did you ever try to act it before to- night? ” “TI never did.” | “And when you came here, did you expect to have to pose as a letter of blood and an enemy of wealth?” Dun- can pursued curiously. “ When I came here, sir, I had no idea that I should be two minutes free after I had broken up the machine.” Dunean nodded and returned to his chair. back te think. “My remarkable friend,’ he said finally, “ you admit that you made that thing and sent it to me?” “1 have done so.” “ And you admit as well that I have never done anything to incur your ha- tred?” “T never even saw you before this evening, Mr. Alvin.” “Then will you be so extremely kind as to. tell me why you did it?” Duncan inquired mildly. The man looked at the floor. “J—I did it in a moment of mad- ness.” “You did nothing of the sort.. You understood perfectly what you were about. Tell. me the truth.” The other sat silent. “Come! Since you didn’t do it of your own accord, you did it for some one else?”’ - ce No? Dunean ignored the negative. “ And that being the case, I want you to tell me who it was.’ “There was no one. He lighted a cigar and leaned. MASQUERADE. 117 “Oh, yes, there was! Give me his name.” “JT tell you, I did it of my own ac- cord.” “And I tell you that you did not. Such a man as you appear to be doesn’t try such tricks. Own up! Tell me the man and you shall walk out of here free.” “ce { ae no! 33 The ex-architect waited for minute after minute. There seemed no prospect of a con- fession. “Look here,” he said at last, “ you seem to be hesitating on some idiotic point of—well, I presume you'd call it honor. J’ll compromise with you, even on that basis. ll mention one name. If it is the correct one, you'll say so; if it is not, we'll call off the whole thing and—you go to jail. Is that fair?” “ It’s—yes, it’s fair enough, Mr. Al- vin.” Duncan came close to him. “My man, the person who prompted . you to send that affair was named Jo- seph Chambers.” His eyes never left the man’s face— and the story was quickly told! The visitor went white and glanced up for an instant. His fingers worked nervously, and he mumbled so low that Duncan could hardly hear the words: “Yes, you're right, sir.” The ex-architect walked back to his chair once more. “{ knew it before you spoke. Well, we'll hear the rest of the story now, and perhaps you'll go free.” “ You—you mean it, sir?” “I do; but I want the truth. You know Chambers? ” “We worked together beside the fur- naces, thirty years ago, sir.’ = Aha! One of his old friends, I see. And when he wanted a good man to make a really reliable infernal machine, he came straight to you? You don’t look like that sort of individual ? ” The man threw up nis hands sud- denly. “Tm not, sir. Tl tell the truth, for I see that you will have it out of me, and perhaps it’s best.” Go NOOK EO!