The Argosy, January 1906 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

NO WAY OUT. by the throat. He struggled, and I pro- ceeded to give him a good beating.” “With your cane?” S20 C8; shit. “There was nobody else in the room at the time? ” asked the inspector. “No, we were absolutely alone, and the door was closed. You see, I’m not trying to spare myself. Ym telling the whole truth.” “And how did the struggle end?” asked the inspector. “T gave him such a sound beating that he dropped, groaning, to the floor, and then I thought it was about time I went.” 3 “You admit that it was with your sword cane that you attacked him?” “Tdo. But not with the blade of it.” “Was this the cane you used?” The inspector went to a closet and took therefrom the bamboo stick which had been found driven through the dead jeweler’s body. Arthur examined it carefully. “Yes,” he said; “that’s the cane I used—to beat him with.” “ You did not open the cane and send the blade through his heart?” “T swear I did not.” “And yet you say there was nobody else in the room at the time?” “ Absolutely nobody.” “You saw the clerk in the outer office as you ran out?” Si aad.” “ Did you make any remark to him?” *T think I told him to go inside and attend to his employer; that I rather fancied he needed attention. Of course I forget the exact words I used.” “When you told the clerk that, Ar- thur Ladd,” shouted the chief, “do you mean to tell me that you did not know that the jeweler was lying on the floor of the private office you hadfjust left, stabbed through the heart with the blade of your sword cane? ” “I swear to you, inspector, that I did not know it. I realize the facts are all against me; but I swear that I am inno- cent of that man’s death.” “ Ladd,” said the inspector, “ you are the biggest liar I ever met, and I’ve met some pretty good ones in my experience in the police business. You ask us to believe an impossibility. Your own sense should tell you the folly of adher- ing to your ridiculous story. Your own admission will send you to the chair. You haven’t got a chance.” A uniformed policeman entered and handed the chief a visiting-card. “ Adrian! Adrian!” said the chief, glancing at the card. “ Doesn’t Mr. Robert Adrian figure in some way in this case?” “Yes; he’s the father of the girl,” answered Connaughton. “Then show him in,” ordered the ehief, and a second later Rosa’s father entered the room, ~ As soon.as he saw Arthur, standing with white face and clenched teeth by the side of Detective Sergeant Con- naughton, a look of mingled surprise, satisfaction, and anger came into the old man’s face. | “So youve got him!” he exclaimed. “Mr. Adrian,” said Arthur pleading- ly, “ believe me, I am innocent.” Before anybody could prevent him, the old man had rushed at the prisoner and seized him by the throat. “You scoundrel!” he eried. “ What have you done with my daughter? Speak, or I will kill you.” “Tf you want him to speak,” sug- gested the chief of the detective bureau quietly, “I would suggest, Mr. Adrian, that you lessen your hold on his throat. A man can’t perform a physical impos- sibility. Ah, that’s better. Now, young man, perhaps you'll tell us what has be- come of the young lady.” “ Why do you ask me that question? ” cried Arthur in great alarm. “ Has any- thing happened to Rosa, Mr. Adrian? For God’s sake, tell me at once.” “Anything happened to her!” eried Adrian bitterly. “ All that has hap- pened to her is that she has been in- sane enough to run away with a scoun- drel, and a murderer to boot. What have you done with her, you villain?” “Mr. Adrian,” cried Arthur earnest- ly, “if you believe that Rosa went off with me yesterday, you are mistaken. I swear that I haven’t seen her since yes- terday evening.” “More lies!” muttered Perriam con- temptuously. “Where was it you last saw her?” asked the inspector. 303 — comicbook (E(0)