The Argosy, Vol. 82, No. 3 — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

536 less. He wondered why Trent did not use his own chauffeur, who sat in the machine and suddenly started to amuse himself by sounding the horn. Trent turned and said something to him in a low voice which no one heard. The chauffeur nodded and desisted with his tooting. For about five minutes, or perhaps a little longer, Grayson watched the scene. Trent seemed to know how to direct and was coaching the leading man, who was rehearsing a love episode with the woman. As a director Trent was slow but thor- ough. He made them go through the scene three times before he ordered to crank. In fact he seemed to prolong everything he wanted done. Satisfied at last, the taking began. Everybody was deeply interested. Every one but Grayson, who slipped away unob- served, suddenly remembering that he had left his pipe on the porch railing. No one saw him leave, as he took a short cut across the lawn behind a row of trees and bushes. Reaching the porch, he saw his pipe and was about to pick it up when a slight noise at the back of the house reached him. Stealing to the end of the porch, he peeked around its corner. Then he drew quickly back. What he had seen paralyzed him with astonishment. Again he looked carefully. There, in the broad daylight, stood a large touring-car, to which two men were carrying silverware, lamps, pictures and other articles and stow- ing them away in the back, while a third handed the things out from a rear doorway of the house! Grayson stood undecided. Matters shaped themselves rapidly. Trent, his cheap company, his request for the servants in order to get them all out of the house, the chauffeur sounding the gabriel as a signal! It was all as plain as day. A gang of clever crooks, with a cleverer leader, had the house in their hands. It would be useless to confront them. They outnumbered his own force two to one, and very likely were equipped with guns as well. And it was a mile to the village. Grayson made up his mind quickly. He would locate the telephone and call for aid. In the meantime he would match his wits against Trent’s. THE ARGOSY. Stealing along the porch, he entered the front door. He met no one in the foyer hall but saw no phone. Surely there must be one in the house and he meant to find it. Tiptoeing up the stairs, he reached the first floor. A phone rested on a small table in the hallway. Carefully he lifted the receiver and placed it to his ear. If only he could make the call before the men returned for more plunder! Receiving no response, he looked down. The crooks had taken no chances; the wires were cut! Suddenly a-.door creaked below. son knew the thieves had returned. Stealing along the hallway, he turned to the right and paused. Some one had start- ed up the stairs. To stand where he was would mean discovery. ‘There was no al- ternative, so he opened a door at random and entered. The room proved to be a library. Noth- ing had been disturbed. On a table was a phone. Grabbing the instrument, Grayson wait- ed breathlessly for an answer. He dared not look to see if the wires had been cut. _ Suddenly he heard a voice: ‘‘Number, please.”’ Placing his mouth to the transmitter, he spoke so low that the operator could not hear him and told him so. “Listen,” he said a little louder. ‘‘Rush the police to Silas Mawbrey’s house. There are burglars here. Do you understand?” The girl did not stop to ask questions. From his low voice she must have under- stood the necessity for speed and the futil- ity of curiosity. “Tl notify at once,” came back the an- swer. Then she cut off and Grayson dropped the receiver back on the hook. So far so good. If he could stall mat- ters for ten or fifteen minutes he— Suddenly he stopped ruminating as he watched the door. He had heard a noise in the hall outside. For a second that seemed hours he wait- ed. During that moment a_ thousand things flashed through his mind. Had Trent noticed the absence of the supposed moving picture star? And if so what would his next move be? The window in the room gave Bob an idea. Perhaps the turn he had made in the hall to get to the library had brought him around to the other side of the house. Noiselessly he stole to the window. He Gray- Gomichboo S (E@)