The Argosy, January 1907 — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

368 Quick as a flash I had him covered with my revolver. | “I warn you that it’s fully loaded,” I said calmly. ‘ The slightest movement on your part will cause it to go off.” ‘J won’t move,” he hastily assured me. “I won’t move a muscle, sir. I sur- render unconditionally. . For Heaven's sake, don’t handle that gun so care- lessly.”” His teeth were actually chattering. I looked at him contemptuously, for I like to see grit—even in a burglar. “You're a pretty sort of a fellow to come bothering folks at this hour of the night, aren’t you?” I said scornfully. ‘You don’t deserve to be shown any mercy. You ought to be shot dead as you stand trembling there, you wretched coward!” | | As I said the words I waved the re- volver menacingly. ‘“ Please—please keep that thing still,” he whimpered. “It will go off, in a minute, if you’re not careful.” ‘Tt will go off in less than a minute if you're not careful,” I corrected him. ‘Keep your voice down, you scoundrel! Do you want to arouse the whole house ?”’ ‘“T won't arouse anybody,” he assured me ina whisper. “I’ll do anything you say, sir. I’m entirely in your hands. For Heaven’s sake, tell me what you want of me and let me go.” “Let you go?” I remarked, with a low laugh. “I rather guess not. You -and I are going to take a little walk, my friend—after I have gone through the formality of putting on a few clothes.” ‘A little walk!” he gasped. “ Where to, sir?” “Oh, I guess you’ll have no difficulty in recognizing the place when we ar- rive,” I sneered. “See here,’ I added convincingly ; “T’m willing to admit that it isn’t an easy thing for a man to put on his trousers and coat and at the same time keep aefellow covered with a pistol. Nevertheless, I’m going to try to ac- complish the feat. Don’t attempt any monkey business while I’m dressing, or this little scene is liable to have a fatal ending.” ‘IT won’t move a muscle,” he said. THE ARGOSY. “ You'd better not,’ I assured him grimly. Despite the fact that. 1 had only one free hand, I managed to put on enough clothes to satisfy the conventionalities. ‘Now march,” I said, pressing the muzzle of the revolver against the small of his back. “And if you make any noise going down-stairs you'll look more like a porous. plaster than a human being.” 1 was anxious to get him out of the house without arousing the folks, for IL. knew my mother would be scared out of her wits if she realized that there was a burglar on the premises. He went down that staircase with the quietness of a mouse. I opened the front door, and gently closed it after us. On the corner we met my friend the policeman. ‘What's this?” exclaimed the blue- coat, in amazement, as his eyes caught the gleam of my revolver. ‘“ Bold, bad burglar,” I replied, with a grin. “I caught him red-handed in my room.” “You did, eh?” said the patrolman. ‘Good work, sir. Of course, you're willing to come to the station-house and make a complaint?” ‘Of course,”’ I assented. ‘‘ Better see if he’s armed, officer. I forgot to look.” The patrolman proceeded to pat the prisoner’s pockets in search of a con- cealed weapon, a _ process. technically known in the police department as “ frisking.”’ ‘“ He’s not armed,” he remarked, and thus assured, I restored my trusty re- volver to my coat-pocket. Seeing which act the prisoner, a look of intense relief on his white face, turned excitedly to the policeman, and pointing to me, cried hastily: “Seize him quick! He’s either a crazy man or a burglar!” At which statement the policeman and I laughed derisively. “Those bluffs don’t go,” said the officer, seizing him roughly by the coat- collar. “ To the station-house for yours, as quick as you can march.” Arrived at the police station, we con- fronted the sergeant behind the desk. “ What have. we here?”’ inquired that worthy listlessly. Gomichook (C@)