The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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22. Denny over with amused contempt, but and they read the note together by the decided on a diplomatic course. “Where did young Hampton go to?” he inquired, assuming an easy indifference as he lighted a cigarette. “Mr. Hampton went out that gate,” Denny replied crisply. “It’s not my business to look beyond that, nor yours tu be askin’ impartinent questions, me friend.” The other scowled, but brightened again and asked shrewdly: “Did a man come _ here to see Hampton to-day? Mr. Del- roy told me to ask. He sent a man here on business, he said.” ; “There’s been no man here,” answered Denny, “but Mr. Delroy should be askin’ his own questions, or hirin’ a lawyer to do it for ’im. I regret the necessity, young man, of requestin’ ye to remove yer ciga- rette an’ yer accompanyin’ face outside th’ fence. We have real Orpin’ton fowls here, an’ they’ve delicate voices, an’ smoke is bad for their throats. The rooster coughed but a moment ago, an’ Ill be after sprayin’ his throat, so I'll say good-night to ye.” “You're a funny old geezer!’’ observed the chauffeur. ‘Why don’t you hire a hall? You ought to be doing the two-a- day on the Loew circuit.” ~ “Sure, I’m considerin’ an offer to ap- pear in ‘Hamlet’ at the Wadsworth,” re- torted Denny. ‘“‘It’s the part o’ the Second Grave Digger I’m after takin’, an’ if yell come along, me lad, ye’ll do fine, just as ye are, fer Yorick’s skull.” The chauffeur swaggered through the door and his car went chugging away at a feverish pace a moment later. Denny chuckled with vast satisfaction and car- ried the note to Exmoor, who was wait- ing in the dense shadow of the porch. “This is addressed to Mr. Hampton,” Exmoor explained considerately, “but it is understood that I may open it for him.” “That’s for you to say, sir, seein’ you’re a gentleman an’ a friend of Mr. Hamp- ton,” said Denny, and went back to his station near the gate. A little after ten o’clock Jerry came home. Exmoor stopped him on the porch, THE ARGOSY. light of matches. Mr. Hampton: Unexpected developments have altered my plans concerning the property you now occupy. I think that if we can have a brief talk we may arrive at an agree- ment which will be satisfactory to both of us. If you care to call at my house to-night, I will see you at any hour, how- ever late, as I would like to have the mat- ter settled without delay. (Signed) Mizton DeEtroy. Jerry clapped a hand boisterously upon Exmoor’s shoulder and burst into a shrill laugh, more of pent-up emotion than of mirth. ‘‘Aladdin’s lamp couldn’t have done bet- ter than that!” he cried. “And you’re going there to-night?” Ex- moor whispered anxiously. _ “Tf Broadway was a raging torrent, and five times as wide as it is,” answered Jerry, “I would get there to-night.” CHAPTER VI. A FIFTH OF A LOAF. LEVEN o’clock is a late hour in the secluded Inwood section, and as Jerry Hampton hurried from Prescott Avenue into the tortuous lanes of the more thickly wooded part of the hill, the watch dogs were barking vigilantly in the gardens of the darkened houses and there were no pedestrians abroad. In the Delroy dwelling, however, a shaded lamp glowed dully from the library window at the right of the entrance porch. Jerry touched the bell lightly and the door was opened almost instantly by Mil- ton Delroy. It had been but a few hours since the two men faced each other with flashing eyes and bitter tongues, and Del- roy had sufficient good taste to maintain an icy reserve now, despite the mild, al- most conciliatory tone he had employed in the letter delivered by the chauffeur. No greeting passed between host and visitor. | ECOPMICLOOOKS (C@