The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THANKS TO THE B. R. Ty only in it for the joke of the thing and— ah!”’ He snatched down the telephone-receiv- er. The red-faced Mr. Tyne, also making a brave struggle for composure, gripped his wrist and put a finger on the hook, holding it down. Also, he glanced over his shoulder at Dr. Bowen, and the latter barely caught: “ Wait a minute! If he isn’t Whinnys, Heaven knows who he is, Fenner! If we can lock him up in a station-house, he’ll be that much readier to keep his mouth shut as the price of having the charge withdrawn—eh ?” ‘Tf it comes to that,” Mr. Fenner said suddenly, ‘““he was working over my safe and I saw him at it, but—”’ Harrison, with a wrench, threw off Mr. Tyne’s hands and slammed the telephone to the desk again. “You do what you like; I’m going. to have him pinched on my own account, and the charge will not be withdrawn, at that! Hello! Give me Police Headquar- ters!” The man from Hallas, just as he would have stepped forward to speak his mind, ‘grew rigid. These three knew exactly what was afoot and could shape any kind of story accordingly, while he could offer only a recital such as no well-balanced magistrate in the world could or would believe! These three were men of wealth, if appearances counted; he had one dollar ‘and eighty-five cents. Dr. Bowen looked about wildly. Even the girl was gone! But she was back in an instant, behind him and whispering directly into his ear: ‘““T’ve opened the front door—wide! Run!” cc pea? ‘‘ Qh, please go while you can, doctor!” the whisper urged frantically. ‘‘ They may turn any second and—”’ “IT won’t leave you here!” Dr. James Bowen said doggedly, albeit with a little smile. ‘“ I undertook—”’ “ Doctor, I’m absolutely safe, I tell you! Won’t you please try.to get out. 47 I don’t think they’ll let Harrison follow you, but he’s the most vindictive—oh, please go!” ‘Give me the Atlantic Avenue station, Headquarters!” Harrison barked into the telephone. Hands on their hips, Tyne and Fenner were looking down at him, and the former nodded. ‘““Let him do it, Fenner!” he said. “ It won’t kick up much excitement, and I’ve got a darned good scheme forming right now!” The frenzied squeeze on his right hand roused Dr. Bowen’s numbing faculties. He looked around and found eyes of agony imploring him. Lovelier than any woman he had ever seen before, he might never see her again; but she knew all about this wild business’ One last where he knew nothing at all. glance toward the substantial citizens whose backs were still toward him—and Dr. Bowen, on tiptoe, leaped through the dining-room, into the corridor, through the door, and down to the street! Whatever the answer might be, a eyes had finished the job. The girl might be exaggerating matters, but those eyes had told so strongly of his necessity for headlong flight that the memory of them fairly chilled him as he raced down the still street. His very first concern was to leave the neighborhood. And then? Well, then, perhaps he could do a little thinking; then, very likely, he would calm sufficient- ly to see the sane course of action for a man in his predicament. But for the present, the one amazing night of his whole humdrum existence had all but battered the senses out of him and—how many streets had he crossed already, anyway?’ He seemed to remember a dozen or so, but there could not have been more than one or two. Passing lights told of a trolley line at the end of this block, and his heart rose a little. That was the next step of his flight—and of a good many other fu- gitives’ flight, for that matter. COMIC IOOKS (E@)