The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 4 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF THE BRONX. “Vou would have been if you hadn’t spoken and I hadn’t recognized your voice.” ‘But I say, that isn’t the way to treat a fellow who is doing you a big favor.” Fanning threw himself on the lounge sidewise, and rested his head on his hand upheld by his elbow. ‘So! You were doing me a favor! I’m sure my gratitude may be great without be- ing excessive. When, will you tell me, has skulking at midnight among a man’s trees been regarded as a favor?” “T was looking for Batterson.” “You were —looking for Batterson! Come, now, Tom, don’t expect me to.swal- low any such stuff as that. Did you expect to find Batterson hanging like a fir cone in one of my trees? Or did you think perhaps I had him in a jewel-case in-my bureau- drawer.” “What do you mean by that?” demanded Tom savagely, leaping to his feet. ‘““‘What do you mean, Fanning?” Kendry’s face was white with anger, and his fists were clenched. Fanning did not move from his comfortable recumbent posi- tion. “Sit down, you fool. Haven’t you had enough? Do you feel like fighting me?”’ “What did you mean by that reference to a jewel-case in a bureau-drawer?” oe | asked a question which you failed to answer.’ Fanning’s eyes were glittering like cold, polished steel. “How can I answer an insult when I don’t know what you mean by it?” “Tf you don’t know what I mean, how do you know that it was an insult? Sit down. You and I are going to have a nice little talk right here and I want the truth if it takes till daylight to get it. What were you doing among my trees at midnight?” “T told you I was looking for Batterson.” “And I tell you that you are a liar.” “Hang you, Fanning,” cried Tom, ‘I’m telling the truth.” ‘Sit down. If you come one step nearer me with your fists clenched I’ll get up and wallop you till you can’t stand on your feet at all. Now—sit down!” The command was too peremptory, the glare from those angry eyes too steady, and the muscles of the man who owned the eyes too much like steel for Tom to dis- obey. He sank back into his chair. “Now,” said Fanning, sitting up, “I don’t want any more lies. I’m going to ask 613 you some questions. There are ways in this little Borough of the Bronx to find out whether a man tells the truth or not. I am not the greenhorn in New York that I was the day you and I landed here from Al- bany. First, I want to know who the per- son is who signs his initials ‘A, G.’?” Tom started violently. “Confound you! You’ve been rifling my bureau-drawer.” ~ “T haven’t been in your room since I took up my residence here. But I know that you owe, or did owe, a person called A. G. one thousand dollars, and that he wanted the money.” “Then Joyce stole the letter.” “Be careful how you speak of my future wife if you .don’t want to get your head punched.” ‘Since when!” blurted Tom, opening his eyes wide. “Never you mind. It is something that concerns you not at all, something you can neither help along nor hinder. What about this ‘A. G,’?”” ““He’s been paid.”’ ‘““A thousand dollars?” “Yes, a thousand dollars in good United States currency.” “Where did you get the thousand?” “That’s none of your business. That’s something you can neither help nor hinder.” | “Tom,” Fanning spoke in a low, sad and pleading voice now, “did you take that jewelry out of the house?” “In the name of God!”’ Tom leaped to his feet again. ‘‘Have you gone insane? Are you accusing me of robbing my own father and mother and sister?” “Sit down,” thundered Fanning. ‘Don’t threaten me iif you don’t want a sore head. I am intimating that circumstances point very strongly to you as the very person who did that very thing.” “Fanning!” ‘“That’s my name, and that is becoming my opinion. Unless you can give a better account of yourself than you have thus far done it will be my opinion.” “Boardman!” “That’s my name, too. . The constant repetition of it gets us nowhere. Now sit down and explain away my suspicion if you can?” ‘Why don’t you telephone to the West- chester police-station and have me locked up for attempting to rob your house? Why COMMICOOOKS (C@