The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 2 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOTIVE. \ don’t know how Preston feels, but I ob- ject to being trailed everywhere I go.” ‘‘ All right,” smiled the prosecutor, “ I won’t have any reason to keep in touch with you after we have finished this talk, so let us get on. You called up Mr. Swandorf on the telephone as soon as you arrived at Larchmont yesterday after- noon?” “ Yes,” Finch nodded. “TI called ‘him up and learned that he was to be at his bungalow, and I told whoever it was that talked to me that Preston and I would call in the morning.” ‘“T see. Then what did you do?” ‘Why, we put the automobile up, had dinner, and then for a while I stayed with Preston while we watched the danc- ing at the hotel. I was not feeling very fit, and so I went up to bed about nine o’clock. Preston stayed down; he was going to dance, he said.” : ‘““So you went to bed?” “Yes. In the morning about seven o’clock I went in and wakened Preston. Then we came down here.” ‘““T see.” Griffith studied Finch close- ly. ‘‘ You’ve no idea that Preston left the hotel after he went up-stairs?”’ “Preston?” Finch stared at the other seriously. ‘“‘ Why, no; I haven’t the slightest idea that he did. Of course, if he had I should not have known it, pro- vided he returned in time for me to find him in bed.” “ Naturally,” Griffith replied, pressing his thin lips together. ‘“‘ Now do you know of any reason why Preston might have seen fit to leave his bed and visit the bungalow last night?” / Finch shook his head. No, he knew of mo reason whatever. Of course, he was not familiar with his friend’s private life. ‘“We are business partners, purely and simply,” he explained, ‘“‘ and we let it go at that. He doesn’t know anything about my affairs outside the office, and I know nothing of his.” “Then you cannot conceive of any motive Preston might have for attacking Swandorf?”’ persisted the lawyer. 10 ARGOSY . 337 “Preston!” Finch frowned as though in thought. “Why, no. Except — except, since we are talking frankly, Swandorf was Miss Hamilton’s guardian, I believe, and I know Preston is very much enam- ored of the girl, who ”—Finch raised his hand deprecatingly—“ is an extremely close friend of mine.” ‘“ You mean that Swandorf might have had some objections to Preston’s friend- ship for his ward, and that as a result the two quarreled over the matter?” ‘Oh, I have no suspicions of any sort,” affirmed Finch. ‘ That’s a matter for you to determine. I can only tell you the facts. Preston said nothing to me about Swandorf; I can tell you that much.” ‘IT see.”’ Griffith pondered a moment. ‘Well, I don’t want you to say anything to Preston. JI mean about my talk with you. But for your own information I'll say I’ve got hold of certain facts that rather excite my curiosity concerning that young man.” “Is that so?” exclaimed Finch. “TI had no idea of such a thing! What are —why are you suspicious?” ‘That you may know later. For the present it is as well to let things take their course—that is, until I am surer of my ground. Preston seems a sharp one. If you don’t object I'll not give him any reason to think that we’re watching him any closer than we are you.” “That’s all right,” said Finch; “ but just the same tell your men to stop dog- ging me around as they have been doing. 1 don’t like it. Miss Hamilton and I have an understanding, I may say; at least, we are approaching one, and if she comes to realize that I am being trailed like a criminal it may injure me. I certainly have no intention of quitting this house, under the circumstances, and it is foolish of you to think that I have.’ Griffith nodded affirmatively. . “You will not be followed from now on,’ he said. “Go and come as you please and I'll instruct my men to let you alone.” Finch smiled cordially and, reaching j/ SS ECOMMIC OOO (C@)