The Argosy, April 1912 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

BETWEEN “There it is,” was the hospitable reply. But the number was busy. This set Haz- ard to fidgeting again. Finally he angrily told Central he didn’t want the number at all, and banged the receiver on the hook, My, my!” exclaimed the sympathetic jeweler, “you must not allow yourself to be so upset right after breakfast — nervous indigestion.” “T haven’t had any breakfast,” said Haz- ard testily, “and I already have nervous in- digestion.” He paused. “Let’s see. Oh, yes, you wanted the rim. Ill go right up to the hotel and get it.” “You might as well leave the watch,” suggested the jeweler then, with an eye to business. “Oh, of course.” Hazard placed the timepiece on the case and hurried out of the store. He had not gone two steps when he re- membered he had left his stick behind. He hurried back into the shop, seized it and rushed out again. 7 The jeweler shook his head sadly. “That man’s booked for locomotor ataxia, or neuritis, or something of the sort, if he doesn’t watch out,” he said to himself. As Hazard walked up the street a news- paper reporter, a small, undersized fellow, who knew Oliver by sight, almost ran into him. The reporter, who appeared to be as much in a hurry as Hazard, stopped abrupt- ly with a half gasp, his eyes staring out of his head. Hazard met his gaze full, but was too filled with other matters to recognize the face of a very slight acquaintance. “Howdy do, Mr. Hazard?” said the reporter. Hazard started and glanced at the man. “Oh,” he replied. “Good after—I mean morning. Good morning!” He swept by without stopping. At first the reporter seemed about to seize him by the arm. Then, apparently, he thought bet- ter of it. He followed Hazard for half a block, then darted into a telephone booth. “Central,” he cried, “give me police headquarters.” CHAPTER III. A FRIEND AND PASSERS-BY. Hazarp went about half a block farther, when a sudden thought concerning the miss- ing rim occurred to him. He stopped and TWO ALIBIS. 69 placed his hand in the little change pocket which was fitted in his overcoat, near the top of the right side pocket. And there re- posed the rim. “How asinine of me!” he ejaculated. Then he smiled. At least he had saved the time that would have been consumed in going back to the hotel. This served to start him on the road to good humor. He turned and hurried again in the direc- tion of the jeweler’s, drinking in the sun- light, sniffing the fresh morning air, and, in fact, whistling a merry little tune. Hazard, in good sooth, was a mercurial fellow, up one moment, down the next; a man of moods, whose chief characteristic was the shortness of their duration. So good was he beginning to feel that when he received a hearty slap on the back he did not jump as he would have done five minutes before; merely looked behind him with a smile of inquiry. It was his friend, Hugo Preston, a patent lawyer, who linked his arm through Haz- ard’s and proceeded to accompany him down the street. ‘Whither away, Hazard?” said Prestor, “This is an unseemly hour for you to be abroad. What is it? Have you lost your fortune?” “Not yet, Hugo,” laughed Oliver. “I was in a hurry this morning and broke my watch-crystal. When I got to the jeweler’s I found I had left the rim, and so I started back to my hotel to get it.” Preston stopped short. “Your hotel!” he exclaimed. “Have you just been there? What time was it? Did you just come from there?” “No,” was the placid reply. “I was about to tell you. I thought I had left the rim in my room, but when I had gone this far on my way back I discovered it in my change pocket.” “Oh!” Preston seemed about to add something else, but he changed his mind and walked along for a moment in silence. “By the by,” he said then, “how is the charming and gracious Miss Hinkle? Oliver blushed. “Oh, she’s quite well, Hugo. Very well, in fact.” “That’s good.” Preston considered a second. “I don’t wonder you blush,’ he added, “for there be sundry rumors linking your name with that of the Lady Marion.” “ Aw, stuff! Nonsense!” Oliver shook his head vigorously. CoOMmiclbool< CO