The Argosy, December 1905 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN MASQUERADE. “But we are going to take all pre- cautions on earth to prevent such a thing. The very moment that it’s pos- sible, we’ll arrest Chambers and jail him, if we can make a case! Mean- while——” “ Meanwhile, I’m to be trailed by de- tectives! I don’t like it, and I won’t stand it! Damn it, Morley, it’s down- right degrading! ” “ Degrading! Now, my dear boy “Por the sake of the International, stand it!” said Duncan, intoning the words bitterly. “For the sake of us all—yes! ” Morley was holding his arm now. Duncan snorted in anger and remained silent. A little later he declined very posi- tively Morley’s anxious invitation to dinner. He wanted to escape the Inter- national and all its concerns for a time. Glancing into the corridor some few minutes after entering his own rooms, he was more than a little irritated to see one of Barrington’s detectives patroll- ing slowly up and down, “See here, my man,” said Duncan, “you may go off duty, I think.” “What, sir?” “ Get out!” snapped the ex-architect. “T don’t need watching here.” The man regarded him stolidly for an instant, then shook his head with some determination. “I can’t do-it, sir.” “But I tell you that I’m not going out!” “Tt’s no use, Mr. Alvin.” The man smiled apologetically. “I have the strictest kind of orders from the chief not to lose sight of you until [’m re- lieved at twelve. When you went to your apartments, I was to stay outside and examine whoever entered.” “And you mean to spend the night there? ” : No, sir. Another man’s coming at twelve. , The ziteottts eyed faa with a queer kind of respectful defiance. Duncan stepped back and closed the door with something of a slam. The soft tread on the thick carpet went on monotonously. “By George, that’s—that’s 3) the 125 limit!” said Duncan, as he found a chair and dropped wearily into it. For a long time he stared at the carpet and pondered. He had been more than a little in earnest that afternoon when he threat- ened to disappear. Indeed, at the time he had almost meant to steal away that night, regain - his smooth-shaven face, and announce himself to Gregg and his other friends as John Duncan, returned from the imaginary trip! The complicated situation had gone almost beyond his bearing; he was very nearly ready to break his way to free- dom and poverty, be the consequences what they might. His sacrifice had become too great. Where before, outside of business troubles, he had been forced into the © disagreement with Louise Havers and into the detestable hypocrisy of a love affair with Beatrice, he had now passed to a stage of real, imminent physical danger. Chambers, having gone to such lengths, would hardly pause short of another attempt—and Duncan felt a strong suspicion that the third trial might successfully end all possibility of Henry -Alvin’s marriage and the conse- quent consolidation of International in- terests. And almost as great was his anger at being trailed. The slow and _ steady tramp without maddened him. He found himself listening for it and won- dering if it would ever cease. Finally he leaped to his feet with an exasperated oath. He would go out for a while and escape it! Would he? The tread passed again, and there was an unescapable quality i in the sound, which told very plainly that he was not to sally forth unaccompanied that night. His rage grew. He would go out, and alone! He thought hard for a moment. He was alone in the rooms with his man. He summoned the servant finally and directed that his dinner be brought to the apartments. As an after thought, apparently, he ordered the man to go below and see to its preparation in per- son. COMmiICLoOokKs (C@