The Argosy, January 1906 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

ee aais, tke s mA yt GAS a ve pee Naty " i PAP. VE is, 306 _ I held my breath until I heard the clash of the gate latch and the rattle of clanking harness again. “ Gid-dap!” said an unsteady voice, and the sound of wheels died away. I locked and double-locked the hall door and hurried back to the sitting- room. The faint odor of stale tobacco —the stronger smell of liquor—was all that there was left to reminid me of my unpleasant visitors, but I felt ill-at-ease still.” Could anything have happened to my father? It was not like him to leave me 60 long alone even under ordinary circumstances, and now I seated myself and tried to read, but the printed characters were meaning- less to me. I was nervous and restless. I threw the book aside and went back to the window, but could hear no sound of footsteps. Only the sob of the wind and the heavy downpour of the rain broke the silence. IT went back to the desk and stood for a moment beside it. As I did so the stale scent of mingled tobacco and whisky again smote upon my nostrils. The room was tightly closed, and the clothing of the men must have been thoroughly impregnated. I leaned for- ward impulsively, and then fell back, sick with terror. The odor was coming from the box! So great was my panic that I wonder I did not faint in that one moment when the floor seemed to melt under my feet and the upright pine box multiplied itself into a dozen. Why had I been such a fool? The scheme was an old one. I had read and shivered over instances of the kind when I was little more than a baby. The introduction of a thief into the house by his confederates I ran to the telephone and rang the bell wildly. “ Central—yes. dred and fifty-five. Yes. Quick!” IT waited a moment. I could hear the beating of my heart in the stillness. = Oh, Mr. J adwin, is father there? I am afraid There was a meaningless rattle of the receiver—an ominous break, and then: “JT cannot hear a word you say!” Give me one hun- Yes, Mr. Jadwin. THE ARGOSY. said an exasperated voice. “ What in the world do you want? Some braid? I am no shop-keeper I clung desperately to the receiver. “ Dont cut me off!” I eried frantic- ally. “Afraid, I said. Not braid— afraid!” There was another ominous rattle of the receiver. “Tf there is something you wish to say to me,” said the exasperated voice again, “and you are not merely drunk, come up and see me in the morning, and don’t stand there gasping like an idiot!” I made one more effort. “It is Katherine Watson,” I gasped. “Is my father there? I want my father ! ” Jadwin was now, judging from the half-inarticulate noises he was making, almost apoplectic with fury. “It is my belief that you are drunk, sir!’ he roared. “ Bother, indeed! You may well say bother!” There was another ominous crackling of the wires. In utter desperation [I called again and again. No use. Something had gone wrong, and the telephone was about to fail me in my hour of bitterest need. | I tried to ring the bell again, but there was no sound. I looked over my shoulder at the box again, and a sudden thought came to me. “Jack!” T called.. “ Jack!” I crossed to the door leading from the sifting-room into a bedroom beyond, and laid my hand upon the latch. If I could only control my terrified voice—could only make that man in the box believe that I was not alone—— “ Jack!” I called again, and then the very imminence of my danger served to steady me suddenly. My voice righted itself with a little asp. “Jack!” T called again. “Oh, -you need not answer—lI only wanted to tell you that father would be home at once! You must have heard the telephone. I —I—+think I hear his footsteps now.” I had forgotten the displeasure of the recording angel and all future dangers now. My only idea was to keep that man in the box quiet until help could come to me—somehow EComichoo (Ee)