The Argosy, December 1905 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN Then the thought occurred—was the stuff dynamite at all? After breakfast, Duncan decided to settle the question, and another as well. He despatched his man to the address the visitor had left, with instructions to learn whether or no such a person lived there. While the man was away he attended to a little errand of his own. The stick of supposed explosive was charily wrapped in paper, and Duncan carried it to a chance acquaintance of his new character—a chemist who resided not very far from the Exmoor. ‘Ten minutes sufficed for the examina- tion. The stick was unquestionably dynamite,in prime condition for a grand explosion. Duncan presented the friend with it and left, and he was not altogether sur- prised when, upon returning to his rooms, he found his man waiting with the news that a man named Brown lived in two rooms of the tenement, and that he was a machinist and out of work. The doubtful points had been settled. The man’s tale was evidently true from end to end, and Chambers’ first effort at revenge had fallen flat. But would a similar fate befall the next? Duncan felt a cold shiver run through him at this, his first realization of what Chambers’ active hatred signified. Up to that morning he had been decidedly skeptical about anything being likely to occur which would savor of bodily dan- ~ ger to himself. Now it seemed that this skepticism was but toa poorly founded, and that the second vice-president, having failed in the first attempt, would hardly stop. His life was im gravest danger. In continuing his character of Henry Al- vin, Duncan was really taking a long risk of actual, cold-blooded murder. The prospect br rought a bead or two of cold perspiration to his forehead as he entered the elevator tc ascend to the internationa: offices. Before this he had known unhappi- ness in his new pee Now it was mur- der. Chambers, it appeared, was not at business that day, and Duncan suspected MASQUERADE. 119 the reason and wished that he might have been present. He thought hard over the event of last night, and finally decided that some one or two of the friendly element might better know of it. Did they ad- vise prosecution of Chambers, it would be a decided relief, and with Brown as a witness, the second vice-president might be happily removed. Morley had not arrived when he reached the decision. Duncan medi- tated for a moment and asked that Bar- rington and Downs be sent to him. The two big men of the International came shortly, and the door was locked. “Gentlemen,” said Duncan, “ you know that Mr. Chambers and I have had a little unpleasantness ?” “Yes.” Barrington nodded gravely. “T understood from Morley that some- thing acute had arisen between you.” “The something was a threat or two which made it necessary for me to kick him out of this office.” “You shouldn’t have done that!” Downs cried softly. “You never seemed to understand what sort of character Chambers was.” Duncan smiled slightly. “Ym learning rather rapidly, thank you.” “Something new?” “ Last evening he paid a man to send me an infernal machine.” “What!” Barrington started from his chair. “Precisely. <A nice little contrivance with half a pound or so of explosive stored away in it.” The two men glances. “You are not certain of it, Alvin?” “Tam quite certain, for I have had the dynamite examined and it is very genuine. Furthermore, I can produce the repentant maker of the thing to prove how and why it was sent.” “ But you haven’t let it become pub- lic?” Downs cried in utter horror. Dunean smiled as he shook his heac, and gave them a brief outline of what had occurred. They listened silently to the end, ana Barrington shook his head sadly. “it is ineredible, but—Chambers is exchanged quick COMMICLOOOLKX (C@