The Argosy, October 1906 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

=: ‘You’ re e foxy! ”” submitted the visitor. | 2 ‘ Thank | you.” = . ——— S However,” he crossed. his legs, “ there was a chance that you would be, = sand ‘we came’ prepared. You see, we. happened to learn that Rathbone had ~ lost. the box, and we were about to ad- = vertise for it ourselves. : likely that two such cases would be found a on this particular street and on this par-_ - ticular day, and—well, you know who— 5: = is willing to pay for ‘the article.” ___Carter’s eyes opened. One of Ormsby’s "prophetic utterances -was coming SEAS Ts he really? * ——— = ian is = == = Yes, sir, he’s willing to ‘pay all it’s Soe worth—and more than it’s worth to you. <= ~ What’s: the figure, Carter?” = —-* Not _ having oc box, my — deat Zo Than S . = “Drop it! Will ten thousand dollars = take the thing—here and now=——ane no. fuss afterward?” : pee = had it ten iioasend. dollars =e would, ’ smiled Carter. Se You refuse that?” += “J don’t refuse it. I E oe : Twenty thousand, - Carter—how’s =ihate = “A very pretty aes and I hope, for his sake, that you find’ rae present holder of the case.” “You're going to accept that, then 2 <a Tf you want to give it to me for noth- -_ eZ fe eee Ss ‘Benedict flushed aeacde: but kept his~ a temper. = “ Damn it, Carter | Have done with -. your fooling. Will you go to your safe and haul out the case for twenty thou- Ss sand? The money’s in my pocket.” a “Vou might have had it for ten—I 33 couldn’t give it to you now for ten mil- es = lion. 1 havent i.” a> ‘““T say—” cried the other, suddenly. ce “Rathbone _ hasn’t been here—you -__ haven’t given it to Rathbone! ” = “T have not!” ____ ‘Nor to any one else?” oo = —— Nor to ae one else,’ repeated Car- = ‘Give: me your word!” eS = ay do,” sneered Carter. “Then, by thunder! “Takt _ thirty IS thousand dollars and hand over the ” -It was not very (To be continued.) Canter found “instikig Takes in ASS the other’s excitement; he laughed, = S ine laughing» he did ‘the _ wrong ‘thing Soe again, for Benedict waxed more angry, “You're slick—I’ll admit it!” he — snapped furiously. “ You’re considera- bly slicker than you look, . Carter! Here! Take forty thousand dollars!” “My good man, I’ll take forty mil- lions if you insist. I can give you noth- ing for it, unless you wish to buy out this business.”” Benedict’s hand went deep down into his trousers’ pocket. , for a moment. he ~ glowered at ‘Carter. ” : “The hand reap- peared and in it were massed a Toll of thousand-dollar bills! = “Here, you obstinate hound!” he choked. “ Here’s every cent he gave me to use in getting back the case, and he’ll raise the devil with me for not recover-— ing it for less! There is fifty thousand dollars, Carter. Put that devilish case on your desk there—and it’s yours!” Much of the talk of the past few min- utes Carter had taken with the prover- > bial grain of salt. Yet here was the oF, most tangible kind of evidence of Bene- dict’s keen desire to accomplish Biss amis- i: sion. = ee Fifty bills—one tibhsandddoliats con 3 —and they were thrust forward now so that the edges brushed his hand! : He pushed them away angrily after t= Se moment. st Soe “JT don’t ~ want your efounca oat money! ” he said. ‘I haven’t the case, = as I have said about ten thousand tim this afternoon, and if I had I would give it to you, for I’m gyno rally certain that you’ve no right to it. However, right or no right, I can’t deliver the thing to you. So kindly take that as final and leave!” Slowly the bills. returned to. their hid- 4 aa = ing place. = ee “Vou’re not ‘going: Lose eee Carter was ‘silent. Benedict arose, — scow fini 5: “Then, by heaven! Vu rape. that case and you'll have no fifty thousand, you fool! D’ye hear? I’ll make your life Tvs. hell on earth till I get it. Vl kill you, if I have to, but I’ll have that — aS leather box out of oS pefore. Pm through!” Saas