The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

HAMPTON OF of both parties to the bargain,” Kingsale replied. ‘‘Rest assured, I would not trust myself again with that packet on my per- son, but the money may be deposited with certain bankers, to be paid to me after I have made the delivery. It’s very fair.” “Nothing that you were ever connected with was fair, Kingsale,” remarked Ex- moor, blandly. “‘ ‘Certain bankers,’ you say, would hold the money on deposit—as certain bankers held the deposits in the Blakeslee case, I fancy!” “Delroy!” cried Kingsale savagely, “T’ve stood enough of this badgering. Are you ready to pay me the price?” Delroy studied the carpet, with an ab- stracted, wretched air. “You really have that packet, King- sale?” he queried, rather naively. ~ “T have it!” declared the man, “and I have it in a very safe place.” “Kingsale,” said Exmoor solemnly, “you lie!”’ Kingsale went purple with rage. He brandished the revolver and pointed it at Exmoor’s head. “Say that again!” he cried, ‘and I'll blow your brains out!” “Vou lie!” repeated Exmoor deliberate- ly, and laughed aloud as the man snorted in impotent fury and thrust the revolver viciously into his pocket. “Damn you!” roared Kingsale, “you’d be willing to die if you could make me a murderer!” The foreigner, scowling heavily, took a murderous-looking knife from his pocket. “Get da monay!” he commanded. Kingsale glanced at him fearfully. “T want the money, Delroy,” he said hoarsely, “and I want it to-day. I have the packet, I tell you, and I'll deliver it promptly.” There was a movement in the doorway. Eugenia Delroy, overwrought, screamed hysterically. The others turned and saw Jerry Hampton thrust Harry aside and step into the room. _ “Pm sorry to cause so much alarm,” said Jerry, “but I had to come in to tell you that Kingsale has mot the packet.” 6A THE HEIGHTS. $1 Kingsale gasped and turned upon him, and Jerry whipped two revolvers from his side pockets and covered the room gen- erally. “Drop that knife!” he said to the for eigner, and the command was obeyed. Exmoor regarded him with astonish- ment, but smiled slightly. “They keep coming,” he exclaimed; “TI didn’t know the flat could accommodate so many. Your entrance was dramatic, Hampton, but I can’t understand your heavy armament.” “T am heavily armed,” replied Jerry,. “because I feel that I am in a dangerous position; I have the packet.” CHAPTER XXIV. THE ULTIMATE DISPOSITION. “T~NOWING what I know,” Jerry said ~ gravely to the thunderstruck men before him, “‘I would not trust myself in this room unarmed. I hesitate to think what might have happened to me last night if the whereabouts of the packet had become known. Foxford had it, as some of you know, but when he was fighting with me on the Speedway it fell from his pocket and I got it—I practically came upon it by accident. I don’t know when he discovered his loss, but I don’t believe that he thinks even now that I got it.” Delroy leaned forward and spoke in a quavering, pathetic voice. “Have you opened it, Hampton?” he asked fearfully. ‘Have you read any- thing?” ; Jerry shook his head. “Tt was not mine to open,” he replied. “It’s bad enough to carry such an ill- omened thing about with one.” “Tf it’s not yours, then who has the best claim upon it, in your estimation?” Exmoor inquired. “T have considered that, from every con- ceivable point,” said Jerry, “and from what has been said, and what I have seen, it seems to me that Miss Delroy is the one to be affected most by whatever se- COMMICLOOOKS —- (C@)