The Argosy, October 1906 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

“figured out Sahat pat” “Carter stopped short. ‘The door Shad So o"5 Sheen. burst open. rather rudely. Jordan stood before him once more, a faint smile- upon his lips. - ___** Well—-what is it now?” rasped the ~~ senior partner. = —“* Another of gentleman, ‘sir—two them, in fact. They came together.” eee -: What’ s the name?” ze “They declined to send in any name, sir. . __.in regard to the advertisement.” ~“ Well, tell them I can’t see “them! = “said - Carter impatiently. ~ “ No—that’s all. I can’t and I won’t be bothered for z = another five minutes. Tell them that, well!” “But they seem “1 don’t care what fhe seem ! not see them!” = Jordan, who knew from experience that Carter's anger was not a thing to be ~~ treated lightly; Sacked out. Just beyond the door, and only a yard _ or two down the corridor, he seémed to encounter the visitors. “Mr. Carter cannot see you, Sir, from that direction. | “He can’t? Why not?” = ~“ He’s very busy just now. He “Nonsense! ”’ said thé voice. = . Carter’s scowl, as he arose, promised trouble for some one. He strode to the door—and walked fairly into the arms of a massive, black-bearded man. He was. followed by a smaller person _ of insignificant mien, and he literally shoved the senior partner back into the. - office. _ . Then, with Jordan’s apologetic face in _ the background, the door closed sudden- ly. The big man 1 laughed with much ——__ good-nature. “Youngster said you were busy!” he remarked. ‘This Mr. Carter?” ~ “Yes.” The senior partner, bewil- _ dered, dropped almost involuntarily into _ «his chair again and stared at the intru-_ _ ders. ry There seemed to be something com- I will ¥. » y 17 came VA ee a A hl Tivtss : aoe ? 9 _ Seekers of the little black case. nt = The big man, uninvited, ee a place . = “for himself. They said they wished to see you _ - Jordan, and tell them to get out as - tell you. not that sort!” —_ — = = _pelling in the successive moves of these “Well, sir, we ‘saw y your advertisement, - and, I can tell you, we thanked the “Lord when he saw it!” —~ S 3 = “Indeed?” = 7 ; | “Yes, sir! It’s about the biggest re- | lief I've known for a year! Where was _ the case found, Mr. Carter?” . “JT don’t know.” — 3 : “Oh, don’t you? I thought you'd found it yourself. Well—I suppose the thing is to identify it and not use up your *~ valuable time, eh?” ‘The visitor cleared his throat. “ It’s a little box of black seal leather, Mr. Carter, locked ~ ‘at the front. My initials are on top.” “And what are your initials? | Sai quired Carter. His curiosity was i= turning with irresistible force. | me - t6 & BS RR. 49 “And your name?” “ Thomas Rathbone! ’” | Carter laughed outright. = ps “So your name, too, is Thomas Rath- bone? ”’ = 2 “Too? Why do you say that? of ‘“Oh, for no particular reason.” Car- = ter looked squarely at him. ‘‘See here, sir. As you say, I’m not anxious to : waste any more valuable time. I haven’t the case, I never found it, and I don’ 2 Ae know the first thing about it or you <3 See ‘any one connected with the affair.” “ But that advertisement—— “Tt must have been inserted by mis- -take—or through design on somebody's part. At all events, I can learn nothing about it, and I’ve had the newspaper of- fice on. the wire. I haven't your case— or the case—and that is all that I can ‘Good day, - gentlemen ! Seo “Good day!” The stranger’s tae went purple suddenly. “ To hell with ses your ‘ good day , = Rp “What!” cried “Carter in “utter a amazement. =< “'That’s what I said, - sir! You re-3 SS very clever person, I presume, but that a= little game doesn’t work ie es ee “Game! I——” : ee “Yes, game! When you want todeal with something soft and~ easy, ~Mr- Car ter, don’t pick out a man like me. Tm Se The senior partner’s. rage was soaring. : “See here, do you know that you're = = sitting in my private office and talki ing to me! ed = = = == - _—