The Argosy, April 1912 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

72 The while Hazard hurried on until he reached the corner, where he stood, wait- ing for a car. The reporter and the other man also wait- ed a dozen feet away. As the car came to a stop Hazard swung on, and the two men did likewise, taking positions on the rear platform, while Hazard went inside. “Wot d’ye think of that?” said the heavy man. “He’s butting right into the business part of the city.” “Nothing like nerve,” replied the re- porter. In the car, as it chanced, was one of the guests of the hotel, a man who had a room on Hazard’s floor, four doors up the hall. Hazard changed his seat and sat beside this man. “Good morning,” he began cheerily. “ Goo-goo-good m-m-m-m-morning,”’ re- plied his fellow tenant. “ Beautiful day?” Hazard went on. “'Y-y-yes,”’ stammered his friend. Hazard looked at him curiously. “What’s the matter?” he asked. feeling well?” His friend laughed boisterously. He was never feeling better, he said. But he edged “Not cautiously away from Hazard, at the same time glancing uneasily out the car-window. Finally he arose. “Well, good day,” he said suddenly. I—I believe Ill get off here.” Hazard waved to him genially. “ Good-by,” he rejoined. “Seems in good spirits,” whispered the reporter, who had been busily engaged in making notes on the margin of his news- paper. “Ves, a nervy customer. That is, if the old man’s dope is right. It’s a queer case, all right, all right.” “T think it is,” said the reporter. “Well, it looks—it certainly looks so— exceptin’ his actions now. He’s the queer- est gink I ever see.” At the moment Hazard, who had been engaged in reading the panel signs, noticed that the car was passing his corner. Spring- ing to his feet, he made suddenly for the front door. The reporter and his compan- ion dashed through the car after him, treading on men’s toes, knocking bundles from women’s laps, and raising havoc gen- erally. In his haste Hazard did not wait for the car to stop, but sprang to the street in the middle of the block. After him. jumped THE ARGOSY. the man and the reporter, who, alighting on the slippery asphalt, stumbled against his companion. ‘The result was a spectacular spill. As the thick-set man fell he reached out a muscular hand, and just succeeded in catching Hazard by the tails of his over- coat. Hazard, brought to a sudden stop, lost his balance and toppled over backward, completing a group that appealed to the ‘Hazard’s eye-glasses went one way, his hat another, and when he struggled to his feet, the big man’s hands still grasping him, he was the angriest man in the city. “What—what—what do you mean, you ruffians?” he spluttered. “What do you mean by throwing me down this way?” He raised his cane threateningly. The big man caught it and glared at Hazard. “Come, none of that,” he growled. “Tried to make a getaway, did you? Well, you had a swell chance with me on your trail.” “To whom do you think you are speak- ing?” roared Hazard, reaching down to se- cure his hat and his glasses, which were broken. ‘‘Unhand me, or I'll call for the police!” The man recoiled for an instant and glanced at the reporter with eyebrows raised questioningly. The reporter nodded emphatically. “Call the police, will you?” the big man jeered. “You'll call the police! Well, go ahead.” Hazard gazed at him dazedly. “What is this, anyway?” he demanded. * Are you crazy? What do you want?” “What do I want?” guffawed the de- tective—for, as will have been surmised, that is what he was. “I want you, that’s what I want.” 7 “Me! There has been some mistake.” “Mistake! Yes, that’s what they all say.” “That’s what J say,’’ snapped Hazard, “and you'll find it out directly.” The detective laughed and tightened his grip on Hazard’s sleeve. “Will I?” he chuckled. “Will I? And maybe you’ll find out something, too.” He threw his coat open and displayed his shield. “Well?” said Hazard patiently. “Well,” said the detective, ‘the old man wants to see you.”’ “Wants to see me! you think I am?” Oh, no! Whe do cComicloool. CO