The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

JUST FOR SPITE. No action has been taken in this case, as yet, due doubtless to the high standing of Mr. Hicks in the community. We will, however, have action brought at once, if Mr. Hicks does not produce the ax-handle which five respected citizens of Oak Forest here- by testify they saw him carry home last night. Hicks’s eyes bulged out with fright when he read the citizens’ party cir- cular. It seemed stronger than the one he had sent out. In his desire to get even with Pierce, he had forgotten that he, too, had carried home an ax-handle the night before. Rushing to the kitchen, he threw open the pantry-door and looked in at the corner where he had left the ax-handle the night before. It was gone. “Great Heavens!” “What shall I do now?” His forehead broke into cold perspira- tion, and he pulled open the door to the cellar. A quick search showed him that the ax-handle was not there. “Gone!” he cried, rushing around like a mad bull, and pulling things apart everywhere in the hope of finding what he sought. ‘Bertha! Bertha!” he Cried. His wife answered from up-stairs. ‘“Where’s that ax-handle I ‘brought home last night?” demanded Hicks. “Why, you left it in the pantry, John.” “Oh, I know that. where it is now.” ‘I’m sure I don’t know.” cried . Hicks. I want to know ‘Bertha! You surprise me!” cried John Hicks, making another flying search. “T’]1 be down in a minute and look for it, John.” The door-bell rang, and Mr. Spooner was announced. — “Have - you got the ax-handle?” cried Spooner, clutching in one hand the circular printed and circulated by Pierce’s party. ‘““Great Heavens, no! I’m _ looking for it,’ answered Hicks, beside himself with excitement. “All is lost if you can’t find it. Their charge has stirred up the town. We must do something.” 637 ‘But none of the ballots were stolen or changed,” objected Hicks. ‘‘ How can it be so serious?” ‘That doesn’t matter. The election was a tie, and the box has been tam- pered with; the people are infuriated, and demand some sort of satisfaction.” Meanwhile Mrs. Hicks had instituted a careful search, and both Hicks and Spooner were flying arqgund everywhere, looking for the ax-handle on which so much depended. Suddenly the kitchen-door opened, and John Hicks, Jr., came in with a smile on his face. His father made one leap for the youngster and grabbed something from his hands. It was the shining new ax-handle. ‘“Saved!” shouted Spooner, dancing around on one leg in his excitement. Without a moment’s loss of time, Hicks and Spooner marched off for Crossman’s drug-store with the ax- handle. There a large crowd was collected, waiting for developments. ‘They fell aside, and Hicks marched through tri- umphantly with John Hicks, Jr.’s, lucky find. The handle was compared with Pierce’s, and they were found to be of the same brand, while the one discov- ered in the town hall was of an alto- gether different make. All three were placed on exhibition, and John Hicks went home happy. After dinner that night, Spooner: called again. ‘They've decided to take no action against us, and we’ve made up our minds to let Pierce alone. Both of you have produced your ax-handles, and there is no doubt that you are both inno- cent. The thing to do.now is to find the real criminal.” “That’s it,” agreed Hicks; ‘and there’s no doubt in my mind but that the citizens’ party hired the man who broke into the board-room. I still think Pierce had a hand in it. You remem- ber, I saw him sneaking around there at midnight.” ‘Yes, and he saw you,” Spooner re- minded him. “It would be unwise to give that fact any publicity, for it would make people doubt both of you.” OO (Cc ©