The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

«~ HAMPTON OF Jerry darted into the house, and in ten minutes was back again, dressed in plain, dark clothes, eminently suitable for travel- ing inconspicuously. He found Exmoor writing on a slip of paper, and consulting a small note-book from time to time. “There, I think that will do,” said the man, and handed him the paper. Jerry scanned it, and read with an air of ludicrous helplessness: Mitton Detroy, Inwood-on-Hudson, New York City. J. Hampton-8-17-20-11, 131-87-5-213-3- 67-9-78-24-16-3 71-737. 33-411-43-16-20- 381-16-14-3-967-9-388-19-134-887, 70-29~ 7-54-817-93-63-52-20-92-39. (Signed) Irvinc Exsoor, “That is an arbitrary code,” explained Exmoor, ‘‘very hard to decipher without the key, but perfectly comprehensible to Delroy. Have as pleasant a trip as you can, Hampton, and lose no time in getting back.” Jerry wrung his hand again, with fer- vent, confident gratitude, and ran out at the gate. He did not stop running until he was in the One Hundred and Ninety-First Street station of the subway, and a mo- ment later he was speeding down-town in an express train. The scrap of paper, with its cryptic numbers, did not leave his hand; he clutched it as though it were in- deed a talisman. Exmoor passed the rest of the afternoon in cementing his bond of friendship with Denny, the gardener. His interest in hor- ticulture grew by leaps and bounds, and he gained a compendious knowledge of planting and cultivation, soils, fertilizers and the harvesting and marketing of crops of various kinds. By sunset, Denny, who ‘went home nights,” was easily prevailed on to spend the evening at the farm, and he agreed to keep an eye on the gate, to receive any possible visitors, and to turn such callers back, by force if necessary, after taking their messages if they desired to leave any. Exmoor, with rare diplomacy, caused the man to build up for himself an idea that Hampton was engaged in an enter- THE HEIGHTS. 21 prise of some moment which required care- ful handling and the strictest secrecy. Ex- moor himself was connected with the en- terprise, and for private reasons it was ex- pedient that his presence at the farm should remain under the cloak of abso- lute secrecy. A Denny wagged his rufous-thatched head sapiently as he assured his new friend of his comprehensive grasp of the situation. He convinced “Mr. Tarleton” for the tenth time of his devotion to Jerry Hampton, and declared that he would be on guard both day and night if it would further the ends of the matter in hand. Exmoor, confident of the fidelity of his henchman, took the evening meal in com- pany with the old lady, and remained cautiously indoors. She was politely glad that Jerry had the chance to be of service to the guest, but obviously worried over the matter of her grandson’s supper. They agreed upon a supplementary meal to be served at whatever time Jerry might re- turn. An automobile stopped at the door in the fence about eight o’clock, and the Del- roys’ chauffeur sauntered airily into the enclosure. Denny halted him with the au- thority of a grenadier of the guard, and demanded his business. “T’ve a note for Mr. Hampton,” said the man,,and made as if to brush the hu- man obstruction aside. Denny caught him by the arm, and the grasp of his huge hand carried conviction. “Mr. Hampton just happens to be out at th’ moment,” he said coldly, “so ye’ll leave the note with me, me lad.” “T’ll give it to old Mrs. Hampton,” said the chauffeur, starting forward again. “Tve already told ye what ye’ll do!” exclaimed Denny with firmness. ‘Miss Hampton mebbe happens ter be takin’ her pes’-pranjial beauty sleep, an’ she car- ries on outrajus if she’s woke up of a sudden. I’m the gentleman in charge, an’ I'll take the little billy-doo.”’ The chauffeur deliberated a moment, then reluctantly surrendered the sealed en- velope that he held in his hand. He looked ECOMMICLOOO (C S (E@)