The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

side. THANKS TO THE B. R. T. walking straight into another private home was rather too much —and still, she had done it and he was standing out- Then, with a last, bewildered look about the deserted neighborhood, he fol- lowed after! - She was not more than ten feet beyond the doorway. She was breathing audibly now, too, and plainly laboring under some excitement. Her light hand touched his own as she murmured: “Close the door! found here.” What?” “Close it carefully, please,” the girl’s earnest voice went on. ‘“ The people— up there! They’re asleep, you know.” “Ts this your home?” Dr. Bowen de- manded, while little chills ran through him for a moment. “I thought that—” “My home? No, not my home!” Miss Catterson said, almost angrily. ‘‘ Oh, close the door before some one comes and sees.” The doctor drew a long breath and obeyed—but not without a careful feel- ing about at the latches. There was no key at all on the inside of this latest por- tal of the realms of mystery; there was only a spring latch, and that could be pushed back very readily. He found the girl’s hand fumbling about for him and gripped it firmly. ‘Just a moment!” he whispered. “ Is this the home of your—er—relatives?” ee No.”’ “Then it is the house of a friend?” he asked. “Friend? Oh, no,” the girl whispered back impatiently. ‘“ These people—I don’t know them, but the box! The box!” “T know all about the box,” Dr. Bowen said firmly; “ but if we’re in some- body’s house and risking a storm of re- volver bullets any minute, we—where did you get that key, child?” The slim hand pressed his own ever so earnestly. “Oh, won’t you come?” its owner breathed. ‘“ The key? I—why, I have We mustn’t be 41 the key, have I not? We came in with the key? Won’t you come?” | ‘““Come where?” asked Dr: Jim through his teeth. “To find the box!” said his charge. “TI know where it is, now! I can find it! Truly, I can find it.” ‘“Tt’s in this house?” = ‘Yes, in this house!” “You left it here yourself?” “ Of course! Won’t you—” In the blackness, Dr. Bowen shook his head. “T guess so,” “Which way?” ‘Down here, I think. Will you light the hall light, please?” “Isn’t that risky?” Dr. Jim inquired. “Why, no,” his unhappy charge as- sured him, as she pushed a button in the dark and set the high cluster of five in- candescents to blazing. ‘“ Why is it risky?” Lips tight, ears straining, muscles ready to leap aside and drag her with him, James Bowen peered into the gloom at the head of the stairs. Nobody appeared. Long seconds dragged by, and still no- body turned up, nor was there any sound of movement above. His tension lessened and he looked about quickly. If the house on the heights had been boarded and stuffy and mysterious, this splendid place was the very reverse! Fur- he said _ resignedly. ~ niture, rugs, statuary, all were costly and beautiful; the walls of the drawing-room in there were lined with paintings; and Miss Catterson, apparently, meant to ex- amine them! With a smile of childlike pleasure she stepped in and, without hunting for it, merely pushed another button. “My dear young lady!” James Bowen said hoarsely and persuasively, “if the box is here, let us find it and then go to your home; but let’s spare the light!” Helen Catterson merely studied him “Not here,” she murmured. ‘Not in the house, you mean?” the doctor asked, with eagerness unconcealed. S COMIC OOOKXS (C@)