The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 4 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE BRONX. were correct. He was not wanted at the Kendrys’. “T think—” He was about to say that he had to go back to his work when the sound of a motor was heard, and Batterson rolled up to the curb. : “Damn!” said Tom under his breath. “Glad to find you idle,” Batterson said cheerily as he came upon the veranda. “Came on purpose. Going to take a trip up the Sound. Want you to go. What say?” Tom looked straight ahead of him, think- ing. 3 “What about it, Board?” he asked, turn- ing to Fanning. “Why, if the decision is left to me, I should be pleased to accept,” he answered. In his mind there was a resolve to learn if his life was in danger from this man. “All right, then,” Tom said, but he sighed as he got up to prepare for the trip. CHAPTER IV: WHAT’S THIS? FANNING followed Tom up-stairs, for he, too, had some preparations to make for the yachting trip. “Tom,” he said, when they were alone, “for a man we don’t like Batterson seems to be showing some good points.” Kendry turned and looked gloomily at his friend. “Oh, I don’t know,” was his enigmatical answer. ‘You never can tell.” “How did he ever get your goat like this?” “To tell you the truth I don’t know. I never liked the fellow from the first time I saw him.” “Vet,” continued Fanning, “Batterson is a good looking chap, and with his money Joyce will—” “Will you shut up about that?” “How did he get his hooks in?” Fan- ning was enjoying Tom’s flurry of temper. “How did your sister make the gentleman’s acquaintance?” “The Second Field Artillery of the Na- tional Guard has its armory on Franklin Avenue. Joyce attended an entertainment and ball there and met Batterson.” “Ts Batterson a member of the Artil- lery?” “Batterson a soldier!” Tom fairly snort- ed with scorn. ‘That fellow?” 583 “Well, he won your father’s regard at least.” Tom mused a moment, then said slowly: “That is one of the mysteries.” They went on dressing, and as he changed the various articles he carried in his pockets from one vest to another Fan- ning came upon the strange note. For a moment he was strongly inclined to show it to Tom and see what he had to say. Then a flood of caution came over: him, and he put the note in a fresh pocket. He did not, could not, doubt Tom Ken- dry’s friendship and loyalty. But Tom was not the entire Kendry family. Nothing more had been said about the footsteps Tom had heard in the night. If he had asked about the matter and received any information and had kept it to himself he must have good reason. If he did not wish to speak Fanning would not ask. When they returned to Batterson they found an entirely changed man. He had become, in the short time they were up- Stairs, taciturn and apparently sullen. Tom went to find his mother and Joyce to bid them good-by for a few days, and when he rejoined Fanning there was a pe- culiar light in his eyes that had not been there before. Fanning knew that something had hap- pened in those few minutes that had changed the atmosphere. Tom proved it. He laid his hand on Batterson’s shoulder and asked in a strangely gentle voice, “Do you want to call the trip off?” Batterson’s manner changed astonish- ingly. He seemed to shake off his morbid- ity as a Newfoundland dog shakes off water. “Call it off? Of course not. Come along. Call it off! Why, what sort of a fool do you think I am?” Batterson ran his own car. Tom and Fanning sat together, and Batterson sat alone and drove. He proved a careful driver, and Tom had little to say. Fanning wondered what could possibly have taken place in so short a time to bring about these changes in tempers. He won- dered if Joyce had also been brought under the evil spell. At Pelham Avenue there is a_ hotel. Batterson rolled to the curb and stopped the car. “Come in and have a drink,” he said ab- ruptly, and with an air of authority. Then as if recollecting himself he laughed and added: : COmmicloooks (C@