The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

MESQUITE, RANCH. that he was behaving in the accepted manner of the newly married man. “Mother told you where to find what she wants?” ‘Ted asked, refrain- ing from expressing any curiosity since Barrington had not been ex- planatory. ‘“ Directions like the chart for an ocean voyage,’ Barrington said brief- ly, turning toward the library, as if eager to accomplish his errand. “Tf I can’t be of service I'll go on,” Ted said, pausing an instant longer, then going toward the door as Bar- rington proceeded to the library. ‘There was nothing now to keep him from his visit to Mrs. Hetherington and her daughter; but Ted went as if he were being dragged by some invisi- ble force against which he rebelled. It would have been easier’ if his mother had hinted to the Hethering- tons something of what had happened ; but very evidently she had not, else Bess would never have remained in the house after her mother left when the wedding was over. It was like setting about to ampu- tate one of his own limbs. Ted would have been grateful to any one who would take the actual operation off his hands.. But his sense of what was due Bess drove him on. Barrington paused inside the library door and rang the bell for Williams. “Any mail or inquiries for me, Williams? ” The butler looked a bit surprised at the question. But he carefully elimi- nated all expression from his counte- nance when he saw that a bill of un- usual denomination was being pulled from the miultimillionaire’s pocket- book. He became more intently inter- ested, naturally. “T thought some one might have called on me here,’ Barrington said as he laid the bill in Williams’s hand. “ No one, sir,” the butler answered, trying to formulate a reason why Bar- rington should have expected to be looked up at the home of Mrs. Bar- rington. a ee ee ee ee eS 6s ee ee ee A ee a ee ne Seat ee et ere Pe eee “You have not seen a man—he is a detective and—lI believe his name is Sullivan?” Barrington asked as he went toward the desk. “Oh, yes, sir! He was here and—” Williams had Barrington’s bill safe- ly in his pocket, but he knew that he was to be retained at the town house and was to take his orders from young Radford. He paused and decided not to men- tion the inquiry that the detective had made about the strange man who had entered the house and was still under the roof. It was Mr. Radford’s af- fair, and it was his duty and the safe thing for him to do to keep the matter quiet. “Well?’’ Barrington prompted, watching him with his keen eyes. ‘He just wished to make a report to some one, I think. I didn’t disturb Mr. Radford, but just told him that the detective said he had seen no one.”’ Williams was glib and had the ad- vantage of an amazingly innocent face. Barrington told him he could go, and went to the desk. He opened a drawer on the right, as if he had had definite instructions about the location of something in it. He pushed aside the paper and peered in the corners, as if the object of his search were small. But he was unsuccessful. He reached across the polished top to open another, but his sleeve brushed the envelope-rack and knocked several of them to the desk. Instinctively methodical as he was, he paused in his search to replace them. | The next moment the self-confident financier sank back in the desk-chair with starting eyes and lips parted, as if breath came hard. Once he shook himself slightly, as if he tried to dis- lodge something heavy that clung to him. Gradually his fighting will over- came the sick fear that had mastered him, and he sat up and took one of the envelopes in his hand. It was that one on which Nick Bullen had pain- fully written his name. CORMICGLOOKS 739 lg (S@)