The Argosy, October 1906 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

: = ee Joyce cs = _ _ « Very well Mr. Carter.” The senior partner sat back smiling remained standing beside him, and stared toward the door ‘4 with very ‘animated curiosity. Neither had spoken when quick steps approached along the little corridor from the general offices. The door was opened . by Jordan, and Thomas Rath- bone came in. He was a tall, thin man, of sixty 0 or SO, as the clerk had said. His general bear- ing and appearance was that of the deep thinker; but his eyes gave another im- pression. They were much too close to- THAT LITTLE ad gether, and they wandered in oe Se : rection. It might have been used by the ex- citement under which, very evidently, he was laboring, but ihe effect was not re- — assuring. His breath came hard and rapidly and his hands clutched the well- -_ worn hat tightly. ae =< ae oa NO This was the remarkable person, then, who had invaded the almost holy conven- tionality of the Carter & Joyce private — a office ; and having brought with him an odd impression, he proceeded to make it more intense. - Glancing from one to the other for a moment, he burst out: oe = EE Carter—which of you is Mr. Carter?” | See “That is my name.’ 3 The -visitor ~ rushed across and seized the senior partner’s hand—and wrung it violently.” | - “God bless you, Mr. Carter! God bless you, sir! You don’t know what you’ve done for me to-day!” . Carter ‘pushed him gently toward a ~ chair. + = I don’t,” he bee ‘Won’ t you be seated? z = _ “ Heaven help me, sir! You’ve saved my life and everything that I hold: most precious in it!” _ ok am—very glad.” sad mildly. Carter glanced ~ from the visitor to the electric button and reflected that only three inconspicuous pushes would be necessary. “Tf it hadn’t been for you, sir—well, - a well, this is all taking time, is it not?” === PRE. visitor subsided almost. limply into = z his —— = ote ee — could. know the re- quietly, “ quickly, sir. LOCKED “CASE. Mr. not. held ecnaeenagr ae tered words, paianoe was peaeags “But my initials told the story, ‘eh? ‘Well, sir, must I go farther with the — identification: rave ; SEbee : Rathbone nodded. — + “It's seal then, Mr. Carter. The hinges are of brass, nickel- oe The = cover-——" = = = ere, Carter had pine oom “The cover of what?” = “Whv —of the case, of course! Se “The case! You mean : senior partner’s voice rose suddenly. ‘““T mean the case which you found, Carter—the black setal-leather case, . again: ; ie “Were you eiuicned, sir, to see me? ”) - er ~~ “ Rather: Why the with my initials—T. R. —in gilt letter- - 7 ing on the top—the case you advertised in the ‘ ternoon! 39 I mean Carter held up a hand, and the visitor x x ceased speaking. “ My dear Mr. Rathbone,” he said, you are speaking | cof the case Lost and Found’ column this af- | $e eh gO = <i rcs which was advertised as having been: = found by me, I take it?” “Of course. And please give it to me At almost any minute——” = Just a moment. The case isn’t - here.” “Not here!’ Where have you got it, then, Mr. Carter?’’ Rathbone cried, ex-— citedly. “ Where can I get aC hoa soon?” . “That I do not know. I have never seen such a leather case, my dear sir. I am very sorry, if it means much to you, but I know nothing whatever about the thing.” = Rathbone’s eyes were staring, with a certain queer mixture of agony and amazement. “You know nothing about it, Mr. Car- = But you inserted that advertise- : ter! ment in this afternoon’s paper!” “Pardon me, you are wrong. I did I know ‘nothing about that either.” “You did not have it~ printed? a gasped the other. “Then, sir, who. did?” He arose, “and his hands ‘ clutched harder. than ever at the worn “S = hat. “ ‘Tell me, Sir, who did it?” 2 =COmicboo! cS: