The Argosy, January 1906 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

304 Arthur appeared to hesitate. “Tt won’t answer that question,” he said. “There’s no need to get. her mixed up in this affair at all. I swear she did not accompany me on the train.” “You lie,” exclaimed Perriam hotly. “You were seen boarding the train for Clayton at the Grand Central Depot THE ARGOSY. last night. You were accompanied by Miss Adrian and a stout, red-faced, middle-aged woman. ‘There are wit- nesses who will swear it.” “What a magnificent liar you are, Ladd!” declared the inspector. “ ‘Take him to a cell, Connaughton. It’s a waste a time to try to get the truth out of am.” (T'o be continued.) WHEN THE TELEPHONE FAILED. BY HELEN TOMPKINS. About the confederate within and the conspirators without. oe rain had fallen incessantly for hours. It had been a very dreary day and [ had been alone since the early morning. Even if the weather had been ood I could not have gone out. “Stay closely at home, Katherine,” my father had said, “and look out for strangers. I hate to leave you alone on your birthday, but no one knows that the money is in my hands, or of course I would not allow you to take the risk. But telephone me at once if you need me.” . _ 1 must have inherited some of my father’s peculiarities, for I was not in the least afraid even when I looked at the neat little bags which I knew were filled with gold and silver. Twenty thousand dollars! And only three weeks before an old man had been brutally assaulted and left for dead for the sake of the few bits of silver in his purse. I shivered a little when I thought of it, although I felt no fear. But the day had been a long one, and EF was not sorry to see it close. I had had but little to do, and the dreary scene outside—the wind-scourged branches of the trees and the steady downpour of the rain were not an in- spiriting sight. For the first time the thought came to me that under certain circumstances it was exceedingly prob- able that Rosston might prove, as a place of residence, to be rather dull. I had been away from home attend- img school for several years. My mother was dead, and my father had been left alone while my education was being completed. Twice he had been elected sheriff and tax-collector of Sevier County, and he was now nearing the second year of his second term of office. When I had gone to him fresh from school it had been a source of great pleasure to me to witness his joy at having me with him. It tended, however, I am afraid, to give me rather an exaggerated idea of my own importance. He had a very pleasant home, and I liked his friends. Everybody was very kind to me. I looked again at the driving rain and wondered if the morrow would be fair. It was turning dusk, although the hour was still early, and the rain was increas- ing if possible. The house was rather an isolated one, and I was glad that my father would be coming home almost immediately. There seemed to be a thrill of impending disaster in the air. I locked the doors securely, and lighted the lamp in the sitting-room. It. had grown quite dark by this time, as E found when I went to draw the cur- tains. There was only the swish of the rain against the blurred panes, and a black smother of water-soaked darkness. Sounds — suspicious sounds — began to multiply themselves. I fancied that IT caught the faint echo of a footfall in the dark hall outside, and then the vague groping of unaccustomed figures for the door. I felt very glad that the telephone had 4 cComichbook (E(0)