The Argosy, Vol. 81, No. 4 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

3175 4. When he finally retired his nervous sys- — tem had resumed its wonted order and his body, bathed and massaged by the skilful servant, glowed comfortably. When he awoke about eight o’clock from a dreamless slumber he was tempted to spring from bed, ‘but recalling that the day was Sunday, sank back and slept another hour, when he was awakened by a movement in his room. “Well, Scotty,” he said sleepily, ‘‘you’re a good trainer. I feel perfectly fit. Let’s see, what engagements did I have to-day?” The man named several and then an- nounced that a visitor was down-stairs. “A visitor!” exclaimed Lansing. ‘‘Who —what is his name, do you know?” “The telephone operator, sur, said it was Griscom,” was the reply. “Tt see.” Lansing thought a moment. “Scotty, telephone that I am just about to breakfast. Ask him if he has breakfasted, and if not, does he care to join me?” Scotty obeyed the order and was in- formed that the man below had not break- fasted and would be glad to accept the in- vitation. Lansing thereupon gave the order for the meal to be sent up from the restau- rant below and hurried to the shower. When Griscom was ushered into the apartment Lansing received him in a dress- ing-gown, giving every appearance, save for . the bruised cheek, of a young man who had retired the previous night after an unevent- ful evening of social pleasure. “T am glad you remember me,” said the detective, after Lansing’s cordial greeting. “Tt was not a serious tax upon my mind,” smiled Lansing, “since, as you will recall, it was only yesterday we met.” “That’s true.” The visitor’s steel gray eyes swept around the apartment and then the gaunt, grim-lined face turned to the young man. “Your motor-car is in front of the apartment. I drove it around this morning.” Lansing glanced at him and nodded. “T certainly am obliged to you, Mr. Gris- com,” he said, “for I was rather worried about the Gray Goose. She does about seventy miles when she’s feeling healthy, and is about the only car I know whose light body can take care of the vibrations of the powerful motor. Most of those cars are deuced uncomfortable riding.” “Ves,” agreed the detective, his eyes fixed curiously upon Lansing. “I can testify to the excellence of your vehicle. I had quite a ride in it last night.” 695 ‘““So you were one of the chaps who stole my car and went joy riding while I was dining at Francois’s!” Lansing noted a significant wrinkling about the lean, if square jaws of the man and changed “his trend abruptly. “Mr. Griscom,” he went on, “I know you have a lot to talk to me about; I’ve a few things to say myself. Let us have a comfortable breakfast in the dining-room, where, over a cigar or two that I think you may enjoy, we'll thresh out anything you have to propose.” The two men were soon at a comfort- able table facing each other. Lansing, as will be recalled, had eaten no dinner the previous night and now was ravenously hungry, while the government agent, who, also, apparently, had forgotten to dine, was hardly less eager. Presently, having dipped his fingers in the little brass bowl at his side, and lighted a cigar, Lansing leaned back, raising his eyebrows inquiringly at the secret service man, who was already puffing with loving care upon one of Lansing’s long, dark brevas. “Shoot,” grinned Lansing. The detective leaned across the table “Last evening, Mr. Lansing,” he began, “vou raised hell with us. What did you do it for, would you mind telling me?”’ Lansing thought a moment before reply- ing. “In the first place, Mr. Griscom,”’ he re- plied at length, “I wish before answering you to get some idea of my status in your eyes.” Yesterday the attitude you main- tained at the Army and Navy Club led me to believe that you thought I was mixed up in a crowd of spies. I should like, if you don’t mind, to get your precise concep~ tion of me.” Griscom nodded as though that was a fair enough question, and, in his turn, wrinkled his brows thoughtfully, the while blowing clouds of blue smoke toward the ceiling. “Naturally,” he proceeded, “I looked you up pretty carefully once my suspicions, as you put it, were aroused concerning you. I don’t want to appear overly foolish in your eyes, but you will understand that in - my business we can afford to neglect no de- . tails of any sort. There was one time when we had an assistant cabinet officer under - observation, a periectly straight man as we found.” Comicbooks (E@)