The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

80 “The same to you, my friend,” Exmoor returned. ‘You are precisely in the same predicament and you are making most of the noise. It seems, gentlemen, that.this meeting is rather premature. When one of us succeeds in getting what he requires it will then be time to talk along these lines. I shall not urge you to stay, and Ill wish you a very good afternoon,” Delroy was irritated by his complac- ency. “You have nothing to say, Exmoor,” he blurted out angrily, ‘‘about the abduc- tion of my daughter and your holding her here a prisoner! That is what I came to talk about!” “T am astonished, Delroy!’ Exmoor ex- claimed soberly. “If I have nothing to say about it, what have you to say, sir?” “She goes home with me now!” cried Delroy, almost wildly, “or the matter be- comes one for the police.” “Then I advise the police, by all means,” said Exmoor, ‘‘for she is not go- ing home with you. You will find a tele- phone in the hall.” Delroy’s face became very white and he sat down heavily in a chair, “You cannot hold her here against her will,” he muttered weakly. “And I would not,” said Exmoor quiet- ly. “Miss Delroy is not staying here against her will.” “Eugenia!” gasped Delroy, and he trem- bled from top to toe as he stared at her. The girl met his eyes fearlessly, and rather coldly. “Things have changed so very much,” she said slowly. “I have always tried to be devoted to you, and you have been kind to me, most of the time; but things that have always been so mysterious in our house are clearer to me now, I don’t think I could go back there. again.” A great sob rose in Delroy’s throat and he dropped his head upon his folded arms. “Oh, don’t take on so hard, Mr. Del- roy!” spoke up Harry from the doorway, with a strange show of sympathy. “Miss Delroy, she ain’t herself just now; she’s scared to-death, and—” e THE ARGOSY. Exmoor silenced him with a gesture. “All da time—talk, talk, talk!” mut- tered the dark-skinned man with vast con- tempt. “What for Meester Keengsell come—”’ ‘““He’s right,” agreed Kingsale firmly. “We are not here for a show of sentimen- tality, although it is interesting, in a way, to see Delroy weep; I'll believe hereafter that crocodiles do actually shed tears. “Now,” he went on, as a look of cun- ning narrowed his eyes, “I will drop my little bombshell. I wanted to bring out a few facts before I resorted to the ex- treme measure, but it takes too much time. As my friend says, there is nothing but talk. I have the packet!” Delroy started up and looked at him dumbly. ‘Where is it?” inquired Exmoor, in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘“No bringa here!” exclaimed the for- eigner excitedly. ‘I tell my frien’ Keeng- sell, no good bringa here—all bad. You show.dla monay—you get da pape!” Kingsale smiled patiently. “Tt would have been tempting Fate to bring it with me into such a company,” he said. ‘‘The packet will not change hands again, gentlemen, until I receive my price. It makes no difference to me whether I sell it to one or the other of you, but the price must be paid.” “Fifty thousand!” Delroy muttered contemptuously. “No, the price has gone up!” Kingsale snapped, with sudden bitterness. “I have stood here and taken your insults, and the price has risen steadily. I will accept one hundred thousand dollars for the papers; no less!” Delroy laughed shrilly, without mirth. “Tt’s not so large a price,” said King- sale, “when your life and liberty depend on it. It amounts pescacally to that, doesn’t it?” “Tf you receive a hundred thousand dol- lars,’ said Exmoor, “what arrangement will be made for the delivery of the papers?” “Tt will be arranged to the satisfaction COPMICGLOOOKS —_ (C@)