The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

HAMPTON OF ‘Maka too much da talk!” broke in the dark-skinned man, standing behind King- sale. ‘‘Police-man come; all get arrest!”’ ‘“That’s right,” agreed Kingsale. “I am not here for a tea party. I came to have it out with Exmoor, but now that Delroy is here we may as well come to a gen- eral understanding. I want to know who has that packet of papers, and I mean to know before I leave here!” “T was under the impression that you had them yourself,” said Delroy. “And I am under the impression that they have returned to Delroy’s keeping,” said Exmoor, pointedly. “In that case, I certainly should not be here,” retorted Delroy in a tone that car- ried conviction. “If their possession is to remain a secret, one man’s denial is as good as another’s, but if you have not got them, Kingsale, then they lay between Ex- moor and that young puppy Foxford.”’ “My denial is registered,” said Exmoor, quietly, ‘‘and I will take the liberty of speaking for Mr. Foxford to the same ef- fect. We have yet to call on Harry for a statement, but a sense of humor forbids it. If he had the packet he would have sold it to me for a quarter hours ago. I vouch for him.” Kingsale suddenly lifted his voice. “Miss Delroy!” he called, to the amaze- ment to all, “it is useless for you to hide, for I know you are here. Please come in now; I have something to say to you. “Damn you, leave her alone, Kingsale!”’ muttered Exmoor. Kingsale raised the revolver. “T am the director here,” he said, cool- ly; “Vl have things as I want them.” The curtains parted at the doorway and Eugenia Delroy, pale and with eyes red from crying, stood trembling with fright . on the threshold. “What can you possibly—want with me?” she moaned piteously, staring at the revolver with growing terror. “Please sit down,” Kingsale said cour- teously, ‘‘and calm yourself. I intend no violence, Miss Delroy, but force is the only thing that these men understand. THE HEIGHTS. 79 “Now we can talk,” he went on, with increasing arrogance. “First of all, I will say that I have no desire to make any one here actually unhappy. I am getting on in years, and I am more willing to forget the past than I used to be. What I value most now is ease and.comfort, and I require money for those things. What Exmoor will do without the packet I can’t say, but if you, Delroy, will give me cash or ac- ceptable securities for fifty thousand dol- lars, I shall disappear, and you will have no more trouble from me.”’ : “Otherwise?”? murmured Delroy. “Otherwise,’’ Kingsale answered quick- ly, “‘I-shall tell this girl some things that will make her unhappy, and these two fellows that are witnessing this meeting will be in a position to blackmail you on their own account.” Delroy’s face was flushed, but he re- mained calm. “You are talking with all the idiocy of the desperate blackmailer, Kingsale,” he said. “When you fellows lack the ade- quate material you fall back invariably on vague threats and vaporings. You are such a fool that I fear your revolver more than I fear your tongue.” “We can put it to a demonstration!” Kingsale cried angrily. “And Delroy will call you a liar,” broke in Exmoor, ‘“‘and you will have no proof that you are not.” “Except your testimony, Exmoor!”’ re- torted Kingsale. “T am not a blackmailer!”. declared Ex- moor, ‘‘and you would have to do without my help. I do not want money from Del- roy, but I want more than that. He knows what I want, and what I will have!” “My life, perhaps!” Delroy exclaimed with bitter sarcasm. | “Yes, but not in the usual sense, Del- roy,” returned Exmoor. ‘I do not have to explain myself to you.” “T am doing the talking here,” King- sale reminded them sharply. “Without that packet, Exmoor, you might as well talk to the wind; you are helpless, and all your schemes are futile.” Go OOO K (C@)