The Argosy, October 1906 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

- ter. ‘And if you have, by any very odd ——— - chance, happened to open such a case— well, I'll furnish the information and all Se ‘other necessary assistance when you. re -___- ready to make-the deal.” = oe He seemed rather pleased ee other- = wise; it was evident to him that Carter ~— was more or less puzzled by the contents ‘of the case he had found. His head Carter pleasantly. — ; a Come, Se Wy not give me your hand, let me see the little box, call it ne thousand apiece for nothing — but a few days’ waiting? It’s ‘easy money—you ll 5 never see any easier—and I'll deal square with you! Eh?” — “But confound you! ? oF: ve never even- E = = > ae Well, have ae Seas own. way, sir-> if you change your mind, write me to the - «General Delivery.. IT ll be on hand | _ within a few hours.” _ ee = ‘Reluctantly he took his iat and Galked to the door. There he paused. ““Bah, Mr. Carter! Why be foolish? ¥ bu can’t swing At alone, mo matter < = what you may think now. The only = really. sensible thing is to wait for some of Benedict’s gang to turn up, and then hold them off-until. they’ re in the proper __. frame—and you can’t do that alone suc- ee = cessfully. Once more, sir, think it over! see = “My good man, I haven’t got the a _ damned thing!” Carter exploded, impa- ee TENCE; Sapeoy, and real Sacppene. 2 = _ ment mingling in his voice. Se For a moment Ormsby stared at him = 2 ie silence. After which he shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the private office without a word. I tell I2 that ~— > — BF pe. CHAPTER IV. THE TH TRD CLAIMA NT. ~ CARTER, standing tiptoe a few feet Sack from the half-drawn shade, watched = = Ormsby leave the establishment - and walk past down the Street. __ With a shrug. then, he returned to his sk once more. and, quite ignoring aa. countenance, made an 1 ef- = | ae SS ogi Sas you ‘no oe Mi — Z ~ bent a little to the le and he regarded pee share and share—and have five hundred ‘that, please, Joe.” = ~ Joyce shrugged his shoulders. see any one in regard to it.” Tt was sau = oa as was hi ote power. of concentration Sek ness. He turned ance a minute and dropped. the sheets with an impatient slap. 3 “Joyce,” he said, “did you. ever your life see. anything SO downright in sane?” e Never ! ie ; —S = “What the devi is it all about? = cried the senior partner. ‘‘ Ask me something a little easier the “This man Rathiogeseecidently he the original owner of the infernal case. It bears his initials, any way. - Then - Ormsby. Who on earth is Ormsby? What’s inside the cursed box—why do they all want it so badly?” ee “ And more than all that—did any one ever lose it, and if so, why are we sup- = posed to have it here? 2 ‘“My dear fellow, you: know just as” much about it as T do.” : “Well, it’s a matter that a man es go mad speculating over!” snapped Car- ter impatiently. ‘I’m going to crop ie now for good. By Jove, I am! = next to impossible, and I’d give a hae ae dred dollars on the spot to know SS : = : swer to the riddle—but it has taken — enough time now. Jordan!” — ues The clerk, passing the door, looked in. = eg ‘If any one else comes here to- -day== = = or any other day—to see about a leather — os case which I am suppose@ to have = : found,” said Carter, ‘tell him that the = advertisement was a ‘mistake—you under- = stand?” = “Yes, sir.” See : And say that I know nothing whee = ever about the matter, and that I can’t = “Very well, Mr. Carter.” “ All right—remember ‘it, Jordan. don’t want any one else to get in eres in connection with that beastly case! Jordan left; Carter grunted savagely. ‘There! That ends our connection — with the case and the mystery and Rath- bone and Ormsby and all the rest of it, Now, Joyce! To get back to earth anc sanity agen, T want to. have es