The Argosy, January 1906 — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

296 “What are you saying, boy, what are you saying?” cried Mrs. Jarvis in un- -disguised horror. “‘ Won’t forget it for many days to come.’ I should say he won’t. God help us all! Don’t you know the poor gentleman is dead?” “ Dead!” shuddered Rosa. “ Dead!” gasped Arthur, going white to the lips. “Yes, dead! Do you think you can stab a man clean through the heart with the blade of a sword cane and he still live? Oh, Mr. Ladd, Mr. Ladd, ’?m surprised at you; I really am.” “Stabbed through the heart!” shrieked Rosa. ‘ Oh, Arthur, you did not tell me ss “Tt isn’t true! ” cried Arthur huskily. “J did not stab him. I only whipped him. It’s a wicked lie.” “Tt’s God’s gospel truth,” said Mrs. Jarvis solemnly. ‘ The poor gentleman was stone dead when the doctor got there, with the blade of your sword cane still sticking into his heart. The police are looking for you to arrest you for wilful murder. Oh, laddie, laddie! They’ll send you to the chair. You must fly at once.” “Fly! I shall not fly! I did not kill him. and he deserved it.” “A good caning. Is it a good caning you call it to drive the blade of your eane through the poor gentleman’s heart?” said Mrs. Jarvis angrily. “T did not use the blade, I tell you,” protested Arthur. “I did not stab him. Rosa, you believe what I say, do you not?” “Pshaw!” said Mrs. Jarvis con- temptuously. “She may believe you, but do you think any jury of sane men will believe you, my boy? You may be telling the truth, and I hope to heaven you are, for I always liked you; but do you think you will stand any chance in court, when you admit yourself that you were alone with the dead gentleman in his office and used your cane on him? Who else could have killed him? You will be declared guilty, sir, as sure as fate. My advice to you is to run away immediately.” “Yes, Arthur,” sobbed Rosa, “ she is right. Ill try to believe you are inno- cent of this man’s death, if you say so; I_only gave him a good caning, THE ARGOSY. but the ease is black against you, and I tremble to think of what will happen if you are caught. You must fly, Arthur; you must fly at once.” “ No,” said Arthur doggedly, “ I must stay and face this ridiculous charge.” “There isn’t one person in a thou- sand who would believe you are inno- cent,” insisted Mrs. Jarvis. “ How do you expect to fare before a jury?” “You must fly, Arthur. This is no time for foolish heroics. If they arrest you, it will kill me. If you love me, you will go at once.” “Rosa,” said Arthur, “ you are advis- ing me against my own interests. I will stay here and fight them——” “Oh, no, no,” sobbed the girl. “ For the love you bear me, fly at once. I could not bear to see you in prison. If you run away, I will do my best to clear your name, and for my sake my father will help me. Then perhaps afterwards, when all is well, you can return home. Oh, please listen to reason, and go.” cc Rosa,” man, “I believe you think me guilty of this awful crime.” “No, no,” sobbed the girl. “TI be- heve you are innocent when you tell me so, but nobody else will believe it. The case is strong against you. They may sentence you to die,-as they have sen- tenced other innocent men before. , Ob, please—please listen to me, and go.’ Arthur Ladd looked tenderly at the pleading girl. “ Very well,” he said huskily, “ for your sake, Rosa, I will go.’ CHAPTER VII. THE CHASE BEGINS. WHEN Perriam reached the Star office next day, the telephone boy hailed him. “Hey, Mr. Perriam,”. he said, “a gentleman’s been trying to get you on the *phone here for the past hour.” “Who is he?” asked the reporter carelessly. “He said his name was Adrian, and he left word that you should come around to his office on Walker Street immediately, as he had something of importance to tell you.” com chook groaned the wretched young ° (E(0) im