The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

THANKS TO THE: B.:-R.. T* 17 The medico-detective, with a stride of really astonishing length, crossed to the store and gazed in. And his eyes had been * quite accurate! The article, still in the hands of the shirt-sleeved dealer, was a rather battered cash-box! An instant the excellent doctor hesi- tated: Miss Catterson seemed to have no immediate intention of leaving her corner. Dr. Bowen, heart beating excitedly, stepped into the store—because there could not be a doubt in the world that she had led him straight to the box itself, Its size, its whole appearance, were such as Catterson had described. Possibly, through some mental freak, she had carried it here and sold it, but how ever it had arrived mattered little enough now. Could he but gain posses- sion of the thing, five hundred good dol- lars would land in Dr. Jim’s pocket, and he dared not think how many more five hundreds might accompany them. “That box!” he shot amazingly at the dealer. ‘“ How much?” “Huh?” the startled man asked. “This box!” said Dr. Bowen, and snatched it up. “ What’s it worth? I want to buy it!” “Why, about two dollars, I guess, - but—” The morocco wallet whisked into sight and a veritable hymn of thanks arose from Dr. Bowen’s soul. It was*his, and still a dollar to spare in the wallet! With the box under his arm, he hurtled out of the store again, because the girl had by no means left his mind. He clutched his treasure and looked about. There was another car at the corner now, and Miss Catterson was just stepping aboard and the man on the rear platform was pulling his bell-rope. The vehicle rattled across the Gates Avenue tracks before he quite comprehended that she was moving away from him. . Dr. Bowen raced after it, dodged a pro- testing innocent bystander who just con- trived to jump out of his path, and tried a flying leap for the car. His free hand clutched an iron upright and clung fast. 2A eo | Other hands reached down and gripped his shoulders as he tottered on the edge of the step—and so he struggled aboard, and a rather harsh voice was asking: “ Say, if you wanter kill yourself, why don’t you take poison? ‘That’s no way to get on a car.” Bowen merely smiled at the man as he. regained breath. ‘““Er—where does this car go?” he asked somewhat insanely, by way of making conventional reply. “Tompkins — Kingston — Malbone t’ Prospect Park station,’ the conductor answered sourly. “ Where d’ye_ want to go?” Up at the forward end of the car Miss Catterson was in another of the cross- seats, looking moodily from the window, safe, and wholly unaware of his presence. Under his arm Catterson’s beastly treas- ure was tucked securely. “ That’s where I want to go,” Dr. : Bowen said cheerfully, surrendering. an- other nickel. = a CHAPTER VII. JOLTS. E had won! Aided by the most ab- surd luck, Bowen had accomplished what Catterson seemed to consider the evening’s main purpose in a matter of half an hour or less. The box was safe, and now, with all night ahead for thought, — very likely he would contrive a way of getting the girl back to her home. And after that? Well, it was curious, all things considered, that Dr. Bowen should dwell so earnestly on the future at just this time; but after he had squared accounts with Catterson they would be friends—of so much the elderly man’s gratitude would assure him. And once he was established in the person’s good graces, it was Dr. Jim’s full intention to take charge of his daugh- ter’s case—aye, even if he had to grab it by the most unethical methods in the world! Gomichoo <SiiGO in