The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 2 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

SIDE-TRACKED AT GREEN and it was granted. Such a thing as plan- ning for himself was an unknown factor in his experience. Throwing his dressing-gown around him he rushed out into the car. “Suka! Suka!”’ he cried But no response came. mean? He searched for the electric button. But in his nervousness he could not re- member where it was located. The car was pitch dark. Not a ray from anywhere came to aid him. Stum- bling against objects as he moved he at last reached Suka. In the darkness he touched the Jap’s hair of a bristlelike stiffness not to be mistaken for that of Dr. Fleming. ‘““Suka, Suka,” he cried. ‘“‘ For God’s sake, what’s the matter?” “What matter, Mr. Bowyer?” asked What did it the valet jumping to his feet. ‘“‘I beg pardon, sir, I guess me very sleepy. I guess me oversleep. Time for shave?” “No, no, Suka,” replied Bowyer im- patiently. ‘Get up. There’s something wrong.” “‘ Something wrong!” repeated the Jap. “Oh, Mr. Bowyer, you jus’ dream in yeur sleep. Everything alle rite.” “ T tell you there’s trouble somewhere,” insisted Bowyer. “I fear there’s been an accident.”’ The Jap, now thoroughly aroused, was on his feet in an instant. “You go and find Dr. Fleming and the chef,’ ordered Bowyer. ‘“I—I can’t,” he added with a shiver. “TI fear the worst,” he explained, “ and I don’t want to look at them.” “Oh, they alle rite,” said Suka. But Bowyer shook his head in the darkness. “We would have heard from them by now, if they had been,” he said. “ Go find out, Suka. It is all so black.” “We soon have light,” was the Jap’s cheerful comment. ‘““T can’t find the switch,” said Bowyer helplessly. “ Me know where it is. You wait one # GAP. 269 second, one minute, me fix everything so to please you, and then you laugh, you laugh because you have been scared.”’ “I hope so,” said Bowyer. “ But where is the doctor?” “Oh, he jus’ snore,” replied the Jap. ‘““T don’t hear him,” said Harvey. The two listened intently, but not a sound came to break the fearful silence that prevailed all around. “Hurry, Suka,” ordered Bowyer, “Turn on the lights. I can’t bear this suspense. I must know the worst.” Suka felt his way about the car, and Harvey knew that he was trying to op- erate the switch. But no result came from his efforts. No one but a person who has experi- enced a similar predicament can under- stand the feeling occasioned by total darkness, utter silence and a complete ignorance of one’s whereabouts. “Me vary sorry, sir, but there is no. lights,’ announced Suka regretfully. “Me turn switch and nothing happen.”’ “Oh!” groaned Harvey. ‘I knew it.” ‘“T have idea,” cried Suka triumphant- ly. “I get pocket electric light from Mr. Bowyer’s room.” “Of course! Why didn’t I think of that before?’ said Harvey as Suka ran down the car. In an instant he reappeared with the torch, ‘Now we find the doctor and the chef,” he declared. Followed closely by Bowyer he made his way about. Not an object had been disturbed. By the aid of the pocket-light they went from one end of the car to the other. Dr. Fleming had vanished as com- pletely as if he had never been. The chef, too, was nowhere to be found. Suka opened wide his small, almond shaped eyes as he flashed his light on all sides. After a moment’s hesitation Bowyer threw himself into a rage such as the valet had never witnessed during his long employment with him. Go NOOK (C@