The Argosy, December 1905 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

118 “My name is Brown, sir. I’ve been a machinist this past twenty years or more, and D’ve—well, Vve had hard luck?” “T see.” Duncan was quite familiar with that aa of life. “ Long ago, when Chambers was poor, I used to help him, sir—little as you’d think it now. He doesn’t forget, Mr. Alvin, either good or bad. When my run of misfortune started, five or six years ago, 1 met him on the street one day and he lent me a little money, and —it’s been going on ever since.” “Until now you owe the gentleman about ” Dunean inquired keenly. “Nearly two thousand dollars.” “So I fancied. Go on.” “‘ He’s never bothered me for it much, sir. But last week he came and said he’d have to have the money. What could I do? I didn’t have it to give him and I didn’t have work—and I had ey of sickness in the family.” Duncan nodded and reflected that he had been spared that last, at least. “ Well, he was hard about the matter, Mr. Alvin, and when he’d driven me near crazy he sprang this. He knew that I was handy, and he said that if I’d contrive something to kill you he would cancel my debts and give me five thou- sand dollars to get clear with. I—l thought of the five thousand and all it would mean and—and “8 “ And you decided that five thousand dollars was worth more to you than breath was to me?” said Duncan. ‘“‘ [—I was insane, sir. Yes.” “Js that all? ” : “Only that the thing worked on me and worked on me, until I didn’t eare what happened, after the package was gone, so that I could stave it off. If you opened it, it would have exploded; if not, it would have exploded. at twelve, when’ you were near. “ After eleven to-night I couldn’t stand the thought of it any longer, and I came here just in the nick of time.” Duncan stared at the ceiling. He knew hard luek and what it meant, even without a family. He recalled his days in the top-floor room; he _ recalled Chambers’ forceful little way of hand- ling matters. - THE ARGOSY. “There’s a pad beside you on the table,” he said suddenly. “Take it and write your name—and see that you put the correct address there’as well.” The man obeyed silently. “JT can find you —— if I should want you?” = OS. BITS “You see ae door?” <4 Yes.” “Git!” said Duncan. is CHAPTER XIV. THE BAD WORK GOES ON. A NIGHT’s uneasy sleep, and Duncan suspected that he had acted foolishly in allowing the man to escape, Indeed, his decision had eaen reached upon the spur of the moment. The fel- low’s tale had appealed to him pecul- iarly, and he had seemed to be telling the truth. But was it not possible that, hard- luck story and all, the man’s attitude had been pure pretense? Duncan him- self was acting a part, and he under- stood better than ever before that with a little care it could be done successfully enough. Perhaps even that attitude had been something of Chambers’ suggestion—a scheme by which to impress Duncan with the means that might be employed im an extremity. The notion was too far-fetched, he concluded, and there were certain things which did not jibe entirely. For one consideration, the man had appeared entirely willing to submit to arrest. Would he have done that had he been the sort of desperate character who might be expected to manufacture and send an infernal machine? Again, he had risked his life—or had he? He had rushed in at the very last mo- ment, apparently overcome by con- science and careless of his own, safety, and broken up the machine. He had removed the stick of dynamite and laid it aside and had waited calmly enough for Duncan to enter and capture him—and certainly he had offered no re- sistance. COMMICGLOOOKS (C©@