The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

HAMPTON OF “Go away!” Jerry exclaimed. The other nodded gravely. “Tt’s now about six o’clock,” he said “and I intend to be out of the city by ten. If ever a man needed a change of air and scene I do!”’ “Tf you had recovered your packet,” said Jerry thoughtfully, “you would not have had to go, I suppose?” Delroy shook his head. “That would have put a new face on things,” he admitted. ‘‘As it is, you see, I am worse off by far than I was before. When the possession of—of the contents of the packet lay between Exmoor and Kingsale, I knew what to expect; now, I don’t know who has the packet and I don’t know what use may be made of it. It is absolute hell for me, Hampton!” “T dare say there is such a thing,” Jerry reflected aloud, ‘as a man having circumstances so shaped around him that he is in constant dread of some evil and yet has a comparatively clear conscience.” The older man’s face brightened per- ceptibly. “Tt would be hard for some people to see that,” he responded, “‘but it’s so. And that is my case precisely.” He was so earnest that Jerry was moved for the moment to a certain credulity and sympathy. “Tt’s a pity,” he remarked, “that such miserable affairs can’t be cleared up in a straightforward, fearless way. It’s all a matter of fear, of course—most evils are. If you forgot your pride and your dread of public opinion, and forced the thing to an issue yourself, then it would be all over in a short time and you could sleep nights and welcome the days again. It’s dread of something that never comes that drives a man mad.” Delroy inclined his head sorrowfully. “The theory is perfect, Hampton,” he said brokenly, ‘but it takes a strong man to put it into action. ‘They’ve been break- ing me down 308 years; I’m not a strong man, you see.’ The cab had climbed the Prescott Ave- nue hill, and as it turned into the winding THE HEIGHTS. 71 ways at the summit the chauffeur looked back through the window for instructions. Jerry pointed ahead at the house, and a moment later they stopped at the door. “The garage is open and the car is not in yet!” Delroy exclaimed, as he got out. Jerry uttered a sudden gasp of dismay. “Your house is open, too!” he cried. “See, the door is ajar.” Delroy was startled, but he controlled himself. ‘“T dare say it’s all right,” he murmured. “Eugenia has probably discovered that — I’ve been out all night, and she is watch- ing for me to administer discipline. And then, she sometimes takes her MODINE walk as early as this.” ‘Wait for me,” Jerry said to the chauf- feur, and took Delzoy’s arm to help him up the path. ‘“T’ll stay until you see that everything is in order,” he explained. As they pushed the swinging door open and entered the house, the sound of sob- bing came to their ears and they paused in the hall. : “YT say, what’s the matter up there!” called Delroy, affecting a tone of solicitous good humor and smiling at the anxious Hampton. A fresh burst of sobbing answered the call, followed by a wail of positive anguish. “That is not Miss Delroy!” Jerry de- clared tensely. Delroy’s face grew suddenly drawn and white. “No,” he said huskily, “that is Ann, me maid. ” He went hurriedly up the stairs, ae Jerry heard him open a door. | ‘““‘My daughter is not here!”’ he cried, calling down. ‘Come up, Hampton; I can’t understand this.” ; The maid recognizing his voice, fell to pounding upon,the door of her room. ‘‘She’s locked in!” exclaimed Jerry, as he — reached the upper hall, and without con- sulting the master of the house he flung himself against the door and burst it open. Ann, the maid servant, stood in the | middle of the room, red-eyed and dis- heveled. _OOK (E@ €or