The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

40 ing back to that house on the heights with a policeman or two, by way of look- ing after his patients and collecting a few cold facts. tionable, too, and— “Up here! Up here!” the girl said impatiently. ‘“What is it?” Dr. Jim asked. “ Bedford Avenue—Bedford Avenue— Bedford Avenue!” Miss Catterson mut- tered, hurrying on. They had crossed this thoroughfare, too, earlier in the night, had they not? Dr. Bowen smiled and fell into step again. It was a broad and quiet street at this hour, save for the howling joy-ride that passed just as they turned in; the little all-night lunch-room over there was the only lighted establishment in sight. They crossed to it and passed it, keep- ing on up-town—passed several automo- bile stores, and crossed a railroad cut, out of which a train roared astonishingly to the elevated structure beyond and pounded out of sight—passed an armory, looming big and black with its towers, over there—and still kept on. There was a statue of the late U. S. Grant and a theater beyond him—and now they were following a car-line up the street that went straight ahead of them while Bed- ford Avenue kept on to the right—and it must be nearly four o’clock in the morning! On the corner Miss Catterson stopped and regarded him, brows knitted. “St.—St. Marks Avenue?” she mur- mured. 7 “This seems to be St. Marks Avenue,” smiled Dr. Jim. She nodded quickly and turned farther up-town. “ Yes—yes, I know!” she said, and struck a faster gait. So they were back in a purely residen- tial section, eh? These were the homes of people as prosperous as those who lived in poor Rimborne’s neighborhood— and up here on the next block they seemed even more well-to-do. Here, except for an inevitable apartment or two, the Tricks of that kind are ac- - THE ARGOSY. houses were huge and detached; and in- cidentally, what tremendous blocks they were! Crossing from one to the other of them, the beginning of the next was all but out of sight; yet this was the direc- tion ordained by Miss Catterson’s mind, for she was all but running now. And so this was their latest goal! The doctor looked up at the wide, dark home, set well back, as Helen stopped abruptly. This was it, fast enough, be- cause with a little cry of satisfaction she had opened the gate and was leading the way up the paved path. They were on the veranda now, and before the main entrance, through which no light showed—ah, and she was getting out the key, too! Dr. Bowen stepped forward, distinctly Startled. A girl in that condition had no real business rattling a key in somebody’s front door at that hour. People have a way of growing excited and_ shooting through doors upon occasions, and while Miss Catterson doubtless associated this home very definitely with something or other— Here Dr. Bowen halted his stepping forward process. . The key had not only fitted the lock! The door had opened and, without a trace of hesitation, Helen. Catterson had stepped directly into the gloom beyond! CHAPTER XVI. MAKING FREE WITH A STRANGE HOUSE. YES round and well-nigh thunder- struck, James Bowen merely gazed after her for a little. It was not that he felt any particular fear; but once this night the strange girl had led him into a house and he had been at some pains get- ting both of them out of it again. So far as he had attempted a forecast, he had expected that Helen Catterson’s journey would end at an excavation or a park, or some other spot in which a de- ranged person, wandering about, might conceivably hide a box. This thing of CORMICGLOOOKS (E@)