The Argosy, October 1906 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

do you any good! You'd only cok | = : everything, and kill me! It isn’t all you -. think!” he protested faintly. | “Tf I had your case,” said Carter pa- _tiently, ‘‘I’d give it to. you. If I knew _. the first thing about it, Ud tell you. But LI don’t, Mr. Rathbone—so what can t do For you?” 2 The man remained quite unconvinced, it appeared. Carter was lying, of— course, but the power to fight him had left Rathbone. He could only plead senior partner. SS eA = “You know Benedict; sir—or aye: you don’t-know him, yet—he’ll be after me! He may be after me now! He'll have seen the advertisement, and he'll get the case away from me, sir! I’m an : old man—you see that. I can’t beat Ss him off if he attacks me on the street. __. He may be waiting outside now, sir! _ ~ Please, please give me my case and let ee THE go! Give it to me and let me go away with it before Benedict comes! ” : = There ‘was something almost terrible in his earnestness. Carter’s wondering face was a mass of lines. the sun was the trouble? - a He turned back “to Rathbone, — : and == “stared at him. And then the door a ane Jordan: se ‘burried. in. - __. * Another gentleman to see you, sir.” pe ee “ Any one you know?” asked Carter : “quickly, oe = === =“ No, sir, he has never been here be- ~ fore that I am aware.’ “Did he mention his business? ” It’s something to do with a ‘ Lost ee and Found’ advertisement, I believe he said.” = = With galvanic suddenness Rathbone = - was out of his chair. His eyes glared = wildly” about the inner Office. : = <= _“Tt’s Benedict! It’s Benedict!” he ; cried _ in a choked, terrified voice. “‘ Let == me out of here, sir) Let me go!” _ es “But you are at perfect liberty to go, : Mr Rathbone,” said Carter, as soothing- ly as possible. ‘There is the door.” ~ “But he’s out there! He’s out there! Is there no other way of a ,the 2a ie: a do. you. any Ss eee “now, anda cold hand grasped that of 2 = other, and then at the open side- door. = What under hé was gone.” Je Se 6S GCoOmicbooks.c “Where? Yes, . yes, I see th? Te = < Se: man turned and seized. Carter’ s hand ~ 2 Se again. ‘‘Don’t. give it to him, sir! = = Don’t give it to him! Promise me you, = a will not give it to him! Z cae ee ‘““T promise you,” said Carter quietly. | Ss “ Then—good-by!” _ 7 = = He darted across the office and jerked Ss at the door. Jordan, open-mouthed, eS -helped him with the spring-catch. The ~ = door opened—and the old man Gg = = gone ! ; ee = CHAPTER IIL <> = sent INGER OF NEW CONFUSION, 7 =: z CARTER stared at Joyce. and Joyce : Sc = 3 Sine sg : ee at one =¢ aoe and chen aE ‘the oS The remarkable expression upon his young countenance brought Carter nee nes to se approaching the normal. = “Well, close that door again,- JOrees << dan, oe Sae “This other man who is Seo. waiting —did he give his name? Was it = ——er— Benedict?” “ Here is his card, sir.’ The Clerie> produced a rumpled bit of stiff paper and extended if. ~~ : : Se “Mr. Arthur Ormsby !”’ Carter read ee aloud. “ Never heard of-him before, — 2S either. Tell Mr. Ormsby that he—that = he wi ill have to wait for a minute or ‘two. Ss We'll see him then. That is ae? | ee Jordan left. Carter dropped Into: His. = chair and fairly gasped at his partner. <7 = “ Henry—was he—was that man -a— Ses maniac?” — — 1 well, I’m Gleaed if I know,” es stammered Joyce. ‘‘ He seemed——” ¢ “Rational on some points? Yes. — But he Acted like a lunatic, if ever a man did on this earth.” as = “He knew about such a case—it must = exist,” submitted*the junior partner. = “Exist! I should say that it did seem to exist! But—— : ~“ And I wonder what in the name ae 7 all that’s reasonable it contained ie eee “So do I.” = “You never thought to ask him!” See “ Well—did “you?” inquired. Carter, SS smiling suddenly. : a -_“ The notion never entered’ my head.” a8 “confessed Joyce. : “At least, not— until he, Se Se ee ed ee (fF -* _—