The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

HAMPTON OF roy,” went on the policeman, “please de- scribe him to me as well as you can. I mean the feller that went out the window. Miss Delroy has described the first one, from seeing him in the daytime.” Delroy scowled and fidgeted, with his fingers on the arms of the chair. “T saw him,” broke in Eugenie, ‘“‘just as the lights went on, just as he jumped through the window. He had on light- colored clothes, and—” Her father interrupted her impatiently. “T had the best view of him,” he de- clared, with more spirit, “and he didn’t have on light clothes! I was within six feet of him when he jumped, and I’d say he had on dark clothes; black, I guess— dark, anyway.” “Mr. Hampton!” cried Eugenia, ap- pealing for support, “you saw him, didn’t you? Were his clothes light or dark?” Jerry looked at her and hesitated for an instant, then: ‘‘I certainly thought they were light,” he said. “They were black, or very dark,” said Delroy, with finality, and glowered upon the others. “T’ll make a note of both opinions,” the policeman announced pleasantly. “And now, Mr. Delroy, was he light or dark complected, and was he smooth-shaven or not? That’s an easy one, ain’t it?” Delroy drummed more impatiently on the chair arms. “T didn’t see his face so very clearly,” he answered slowly, “but I’d say he was light, and—and smooth-shaven.” “Why, father!” Eugenia anxiously, ‘“you are—”’ “That will do, Eugenia,” Delroy inter- rupted with sharp authority. “You were chiefly engaged in fainting at the time, and Mr. Hampton, being young and ro- mantic, was largely occupied in catching you and holding you. I was trying to catch the burglar, and I know what I’m talking about.” The policeman laughed appreciatively. “T was down around Academy Street about the time it happened,” he said, “but I didn’t hear anything. Your chauffeur protested THE HEIGHTS. 43 says, though, that he heard three shots from the house. How about it?” ‘“He lies!”’ declared Delroy without hes- itation. ‘“Harry’s a fool, anyway. He might hear almost anything. There were no shots.” ? The chauffeur, standing at the back of the room, was sorely hurt. ‘Now, look ahere, Mr. Delroy,” he be- gan, “I was right out there—”’ ‘Speak when you’re spoken to, Harry!” snapped his employer. ‘What are you standing around here for, anyway? Get. out!” “That'll be all right,”’ said the police- man. “I guess if there’d been any shoot- ing I’d ’a’ heard it. Crooks ain’t very anxious to shoot up places these times, and I don’t believe you’re buckin’ the Sul- livan law an’ keepin’ a gun in the house. That’ll be about all, Mr. Delroy. They’ll probably send a feller up from headquar- ters to see you about it, an’ he’ll want to know a lot, but this’ll do for me, I guess.” As the policeman bowed himself out Delroy got up and walked over to Jerry. “T’m very much obliged, Hampton,” he said, giving him his hand, “for all you’ve done and tried to do to-night. Now it’s all over and I don’t think there’s much harm done. Come in again when we all feel better, and we'll talk it over.” The chauffeur appeared once more. “The doctor’s just come up in his car,” he announced grumpily; “d’you want ’im in here?” “T certainly don’t want him in the gar- age or the dog-house!” cried Delroy, who seemed always irritated by the sight of the man; ‘‘send him in.” “T think I'll go before he comes,” said Hampton. “I hope you'll be quite recov- ered from your shock to-morrow, Mr. Del- roy.” “Oh, I’m all right now,” was the reply. “T’ll have to be just bad off enough to let the doc earn his fee. Good night, Hampton.” Eugenia went to the hall with Jerry, and they met the doctor coming in. “T’m not certain about the man’s face,” Gomichdooks (S@)