The Argosy, April 1912 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

76 THE ARGOSY. Hazard was quite at ease now. The sit- uation seemed to be coming well into his hand. “Oh, I Rnow you didn’t!” mocked the chief. ‘Don’t be so sure about that.” “Perhaps you don’t know it,” admitted Hazard testily; “but I know it.” “Where did you go when you left the hotel this morning?” “To the jewelerss—-a man named Schmuck in Liberty Avenue.” The chief pressed a button. “Send around to Schmuck’s jewelry-store on Liberty Avenue,” he said to the bluecoat who responded, “and bring Schmuck in here tome. Hurry!” He turned again to Hazard. ‘“ What did you go there for?” “To have my watch fixed. I broke the crystal this morning.” The chief started forward. “Oh, you broke your watch-crystal this morning. How did that—did Griffith strike it in the struggle?” “No, Griffith didn’t strike it,” blazed forth Hazard. “I was dressing in a hurry and dropped it.” “T see. Why were you in a hurry?” “JT had an appointment at my office for ten o’clock. The clerk failed to call me at 7.45, as I requested him to do the night before. I overslept until 8.20.” 3 “Oh, you have a pretty clear recollection of the various times at which things hap- pened!” The chief sniffed sarcastically. Hazard suddenly arose in his chair with indignation. “Look here, chief,” he said, “I don’t like your attitude. I assume it to be as much the duty of the police to clear an inno-. cent man as to convict a guilty one.” “True,” admitted the chief. “When I believe you are innocent I’ll do everything in my power to clear you.” “But why do you think I’m guilty?” “You'll learn that in good time. Now, then, what made you strike Harold Grif- fith ?” Hazard looked at the chief silently. “ Answer me!” roared the officer. “JT did not strike Harold Griffith,” re- plied Hazard. “But he struck you.” “Did he?” said Hazard. “I did not know it.” “Where did you get that blood on your cheek—that cut?” Hazard laughed now. “Razors,” he said, “have been known to cut before, especially when one is shaving in a hurry.” The chief paused and looked out of the window in deep thought. Hazard followed his gaze. How beautiful the sunlight seemed, how supernally beautiful, now that he was fight- ing to be out in it. He could hear the trolley-bells clanging, the sound of hoofs on the pavement, the cries of the newsboys, and all the noises that were a part of the city’s life. After all, liberty was something he had long undervalued. When he left this room, a free man, he would never again growl at petty tribulations. He had never appre- ciated how happy his life had been. At length the chief faced him. “Mr. Hazard,” he said, “I am pretty well convinced that the killing of Griffith was no premeditated affair — that it came about through sudden impulse. Now, if you tell the whole truth, it will be a good deal better for you in the end.” “YT understand your position, Chief Hawkins,” smiled Hazard. “It would be a fine thing for your reputation if I should admit that I killed Harold Griffith. But, you see, the truth is that I didn’t. And the truth also is that the city is going to pay me some money for this outrage before I am through.” “You say you went to the jeweler’s?” questioned the chief, ignoring Hazard’s statement. 6¢ Yes.”’ “What did he do?” ‘“Why, he fixed my watch. I didn’t go to him to press my clothes.” The chief flashed. a sudden glance at Hazard. ° “T think you'll find you will be a great deal better off here if you curb your in- clination to be fresh,’’ he remarked. “TI beg pardon,” replied Hazard quickly. *T do not wish to be ‘ fresh.’ But you must realize that my position is an extremely ex- asperating one.” “Tt will do you no good to make it worse,” replied the chief. “T said I was sorry,” Hazard reminded him. . “All right.” The chief leaned forward. “Now, see here, Hazard. Here are the facts in your case so far as we have collected them: This morning, at an hour to be de- termined, Harold Griffith entered your room. You were there, and you, Hazard, comicaoolkks