The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

20 -as your guest!” Exmoor declared. “But now, back to your affair, if you don’t mind. I don’t think you will need to break the news to your grandmother, and I don’t think you will have to strike camp to- night. [I am vain enough to feel that I have a sort of key to the situation.”’ Jerry’s face lighted up with a great flash of hope, but a cloud fell across it an in- stant later. “T couldn’t accept any favor from Del- roy!” he asserted emphatically. “T know that,” was the reply. ‘Sup- pose I adjusted matters in such a way that you would not be disturbed here, now or later, and assured you that the action placed you under no obligation either to me or to Milton Delroy; also that it could ‘in no manner affect your honor; would you be willing to take my word for it?” Jerry regarded him narrowly, searching eyes. “Yes,” he said, after a moment, “TI will take your word for it.” “Thank you!’ Exmoor returned ear- nestly. ““Now—” Jerry checked him with a gesture. “Just a moment,” he said, “if you'll pardon me. I want to know if you are paying money out of your own pocket to bring this thing about, just because you feel that you are in my debt for what I did last night. If that’s the case, it’s en- tirely out of the question.” “T can assure you that I am not parting with a cent!”? Exmoor declared. ‘I hap- pen to be without funds, and I cannot reach any in the immediate future. I had a little money in my wallet, but that is now out of circulation, except at the pleas- ure of the Hudson River currents. I have to ask you next, if you have any money available.” “About thirty-five dollars,” Jerry an- swered frankly. “More than enough!” cried the other exultantly. ‘Now, Hampton, will you hurry down-town and take the four o’clock train for Philadelphia?” “Philadelphia!”’ gasped Jerry, in blank amazement. with THE ARGOSY. “Philadelphia!” echoed Exmoor. “When you arrive there, I want you to send a telegram to Milton Delroy from the Broad Street Station. Then you may take the first train back, and the sooner you return the better I shall like it. If all this doesn’t tax your patience too severely, I wish you would take it without a word of explana- tion.” “But what message am I to send him?”’ inquired Jerry, utterly bewildered. “And why Philadelphia?” chanted Ex- moor, voicing the other’s thoughts. “I will give you the message that I want you to send, and, for one of my personal reasons, I want Delroy to wonder for a while if I am in Philadelphia. I am sending you there to do the trick simply because I want to be here. If things should go amiss, I think I could be of some use right on the spot, although it would interfere seriously with my personal plans. If, on the other hand, I went over there, and you were here alone, we should be practically helpless.” '“He may not get the telegram to-night,” suggested Hampton, with sudden misgiv- ings. “They are delayed sometimes, and it might happen that Delroy would be out of town this evening.” “Don’t let it worry you,” said Exmoor. “T shall be on guard here, and Milton Del- roy will have to eliminate me from the game before he gets through the gate.” Hampton stepped forward suddenly and grasped the other’s hand. “Tell me what to do, and I'll do it to the letter,” he said solemnly. “If you gave me Aladdin’s lamp and told me to depend on the genie for help, I couldn’t be more bewildered or curious, but I feel bound to trust you, Exmoor, and I am asking no more questions.” The man returned his grip heartily. “T can’t foresee any regrets for you, Hampton,” he said. ‘You'll have to hurry now. Tellyour grandmother that you are going down-town on an errand for me, and don’t know when you will return; it may be late. When you are ready to leave, I'll have the message for you.” Gomichbook (C@)