The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 4 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF “Oh, you excellent man!” exclaimed Joyce. “Do you keep the Sapphire pre- pared to receive ladies?” “A lady.” He smiled. Tom lolled on cushions and puffed at his cigar, satisfaction incarnate. “Tom,” began Joyce abruptly, “did you know that we were robbed last night?” “Robbed!” Tom sat bolt upright as though he had received an electric shock. ‘““‘Mama’s jewel-case, with, of course, all her jewelry, mine, with all of mine, except such rings as we always keep on, and papa’s watch.” : “Robbed!” Tom _ repeated this half stupidly with the appearance of not being able to comprehend. Then he slapped his knee, “T knew it was going to come.” ‘How did you know it was going to come, Tom?” “Fanning will tell you that the first night we were home I heard sneaky footsteps in the upper hall. Very well. ‘They were ac- counted for by the note Marie shoved under his door. “The night we came back from our cruise with Batterson in this yacht I heard the same stealthy footsteps, and that time they stopped at your bedroom door. Last night I came home late—it was about 1 o’clock. I’d been—I went to my room as softly as possible. The moon was shining in my window and I didn’t turn on any light. I had light enough to undress by. “Well, I wasn’t in any hurry. I sat down at the window and smoked a ciga- rette. Suddenly I heard a footstep—a pussy-foot. } knew it was none of ours. I had off my coat, and as I was I went on a still hunt. I was tired of hearing unaccount- able footsteps. “T went into every room. I went into your room. I went into the sanctuary— father’s and mother’s you know, Board. But whoever it was must have gone. I sup- pose they were in the house when I came home.” “Tt was close to the bureau in that room that mama found your cuff-link,” said Joyce. “Shouldn’t wonder. Wonder is it didn’t drop in the street. But to the devil with the cuff-link. No wonder the dear mother is in bed with a headache. Did you notify the police?”’ “Ves, and the chief police officials of the Bronx were in the house.”’ THE BRONX. 607 “What did they say?”’ “They expressed no opinion, except that it looked like a second story job. They asked questions.”’ Tom’s eyes were shining. He was evi- dently laboring under great excitement. ‘Asked questions!” he exclaimed. ‘Any blamed fool can ask questions! I could answer their questions! Batterson and Marie, and I’ll bet my life on it. I’ve got to kill that man. There’s no escape from it, sooner or later I’ve got to kill Batterson. You find Batterson and Marie—what’s her last name?”’ ““Nicasse. Marie Nicasse.”’ “You find Batterson and Marie Nicasse and you'll find your jewelry or the pawn tickets they got for it.” Joyce was very white. Fanning studied Tom’s face with keen eyes and understand- ing mind. But, after all, he asked himself: “Ts this the truth, or good acting? We have learned nothing here.” CHAPTER XV. A PEACEFUL INTERLUDE. ONE result of Fanning’s plans for the day had escaped Joyce’s grateful cal- culation. ~Tom was not at home to meet his father at dinner. Had the young man been present and witnessed the return from a trying day in court of the stalwart fighter, he would have been amazed. The broad shoulders seemed bent as though some hitherto unknown weight had been put upon them. Furrows had made their appearance during the day that caused Mr. Kendry to seem ten years older than he had looked the day before. There was a weary expression in his eyes that was al- most. a stranger to the household. Mrs. Kendry, still suffering from her headache, but knowing that the dinner party had been planned, struggled with the malady and so far overcame it that her hus- band did not eat alone. She strove to hide from him her own misery, seeing so much of his. And yet she had no conception of the reason for it. “Where is Joyce? Where is Tom?” asked Mr. Kendry, as the two parents took their places at the table. “T have not seen Tom to-day, and have not seen Joyce since this morning. Just after you left she and Mr. Fanning went COmMICLOOOkKS (C@