The Argosy, August 1914 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

ae 128 mouth megaphone-wise and bellowed: “ Something! Something, come here! Something! Turn up!’ He put his ear to the sidew alk and listened: eagerly for _a bit. Then he shook his head disconsolately : “There is no justice,’ he sighed. © But—hark !—heavenly music.’ They had come to another’ mansion where another ball was in progress. Without a word the ragged one set out for the door. ‘Where are you going?” Roland. “To my fate,” he replied. Laughing, Roland drew into the semidarkness of an areaway some lit- tle distance from the door and awaited further developments. Just as he drew back two men emerged from the ball in full evening dress. Together they descended the steps and started along the street. Directly in front of Roland they stopped, while one held a match to the other’s cigarette. Their conversation came plainly to his ears. ‘‘ Allow me to give you my card,” said the one closést to the man con- cealed in the areaway. “I’m Henry Hollingsford, of Columbus, Ohio. You know, it’s been a great honor for me to meet an English nob—I never did before.” The other laughed deprecatingly, cried while the man from Ohio took the éard - from the inside of his light overcoat. Then a strange thing happened. “ Look—isn’t that a perfectly won- derful sky?,”. said the man with the American all of a sudden. His companion looked up. As he did so the other, with a movement so deft and rapid as to be almost invisible, reached into Hollingsford’s overcoat, extracted the card-case, and slipped it into his own pocket. “A most beautiful sky infeed,” said the American with enthusiasm, and then: ‘“ Couldn't you come along with me? We might have a bite—” But the other excused himself, shook hands, and walked away. - THE ARGOSY. Hardly had he done so before ex- cited voices came from the direction of the mansion’s door, followed sud- denly by the apparition of Professor Copernicus rolling down the steps to the street. Roland, rushing from his hiding-place, set him on his feet, and, without waiting to hear a word, point- ed excitedly to the receding figure of the American. “Follow that man!” he exclaimed. “Find out where he lives. Meet me here when you do.” “What's up?” asked the bewildered Copernicus. ‘“No matter. It means that we go to America. Quick, now!” Coperiticus set off at a gallop after the American, while Roland sped in the opposite direction; that taken by the man who had appropriated the card-case. He had to walk briskly’ for a block or so before he saw him of his quest striding along quite as if he were the most blameless young swell in Lon- don. Roland kept some paces behind him till they were in.a dark stretch of street fringed with residences, from which no light shone. ~ Then, bound- ing forward, he barred the other’s way, seized him by the collar, pinioned both his arms, and hissed: ‘Give me that card-case you stole.” The other was too thunderstruck to say or do anything; he just stood there, powerless in the young man’s grasp. Releasing one of his hands, Roland stuck it into the youth’s pocket and took out the card-case. Then he gave his captive a push, Get outt”’ The thief slouched away, swaying as if his knees refused to do their work. He disappeared round a corner without so much as looking back. His assailant, retracing his steps to where he had‘ parted with Copernicus, found the latter walking up and down in a wild state of excitement. “An adventure! JI am involved in an adventure!” he was exclaiming to himself, VOOKS COMMUC (C@