The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

f HAMPTON OF The elevator rose to the fifth floor, the door clattered, and the car descended. A second later there was a faint, scarcely au- dible sound of stealthy footsteps on the stairs. Some one was coming up who did not want to be observed by the elevator operator. Delroy and Hampton crept down to the landing and waited, and presently, in the half light, they saw Kingsale and his ac- complice appear before the door of No. 51. As though by careful arrangement, the door opened softly at the moment of their arrival, and a man stood on the threshold with finger on lips and drew them quietly inside. And the man who received them thus was Harry, the chauffeur. Delroy swore vehemently. “Harry,” remarked Jerry quietly, ‘does not believe in carrying all his eggs in one basket. A man who serves three masters equally, each one against the others, has a chance of coming out partly right at the end.” “What next!” exclaimed Delroy de- spondently. Jerry chose to accept the question with a different meaning. “Why, I think that the party will soon be in full swing,” he said, ‘‘and we might as well announce our arrival. Perhaps the impartial Harry will be ready to do something for us. “What do you say, Delroy,” he added thoughtfully, “to your going in first?~ Ring the bell, and probably Harry will come to the door. Offer him some money and see if he will take it. I think he’ll let you in unannounced for ten dollars. Then, if * you are quick and careful, you can press the release-catch in the lock as you enter, and I can get in after you without trou- bling Harry. I won’t be far from you, at any rate.” Delroy thought it over for a moment, and agreed. “But I warn you, Hampton,” he added, “that I’m too unstrung to stand very much. I think it would be no difficult matter for me to shoot a man to-day.” “Give me your gun, then!” Jerry THE HEIGHTS. TT ordered sharply. ‘If there has te be any shooting, I’ll be on hand.” The older man looked bewildered and doubtful, but he gave up the weapon obediently and Jerry put it in his coat- pocket. A moment later Delroy squared his shoulders resolutely, stepped to the door, and touched the bell. A voice was heard from within utter- ing a startled exclamation. Then there was a long silence. Delroy touched the bell again, and after a long wait the door opened slightly and Harry applied one eye to the narrow aperture. Delroy acted with more ingenuity than Jerry had expected. He placed his finger on his lips for silence and held out a twenty-dollar note, at the same time beckoning to Harry to step outside the door. The chauffeur pondered the case a mo- ment, then stepped out timidly. “What do you want here, Mr. Delroy?” he demanded. His ex-employer affected an engaging smile. “TY want you to return to my service, Harry,” he said in a low voice. “Believe me, it will pay you best in the end. I have the whip hand of all those people you are juggling with.” He slipped the bank note into the fel- low’s fingers and Harry regarded it with eyes which could light up equally for a dime or a double eagle. “T want to go into that apartment un- announced, Harry,” continued Delroy, “and I have an idea that you can arrange it, just as you did for two other men a few minutes ago.” The chauffeur stared at him in astonish- ment. “Say, this damn game is by me, any- how!” he muttered. ‘‘There’s goin’ to be hell to pay in there pretty soon. If you want to mix up in it any more, go ahead. I'll leave the lock sprung so you can go in when you get ready.” “You're a good fellow, Harry,” said Delroy appreciatively. ‘Perhaps you'll com {C S 0)(0\(6) (E@)