Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

TRACING THE SHADOW. Hotel Amsterdam paper, dated December 10, might mean that a certain transport, indicated in the code-book by that hotel, was to sail on that date.” ‘“That’s a simple, child’s-play explana- tion,” said Zizi, “ but it may be the right one.” ‘“‘ Certainly,’ Wise assented, ‘“‘ there may be other explanations and more complicated ones. But it doesn’t matter now. The re- ceipt of these letters—blank letters, was of secret value to Gately, and proves him to have been pretty deeply mixed up in it all.” “But what about Mr. Rivers?” spoke up Zizi. ‘‘ Where does he come in?”’ “Tt looks black,” Wise declared; ‘“‘ he was here that day secretly. That is, he didn’t come in at Jenny’s door. She doesn’t recognize him, for I asked her. Therefore, he came in by one of these other doors, or up in the secret elevator. In either case, he didn’t want his visit known. So he is a wrong-doer, with Gately, and—probably, with Rodman. They’re all tarred with the same brush. The trail of the spy serpent is over them all.” “No!” cried Zizi, and her face was stormy. ‘‘ My nice Mr. Rivers isn’t any spy! He hasn’t anything to do with that spy matter!” “Why!” I exclaimed. was the murderer!” “* Well, I’d rather be a murderer than a spy!”? Her eyes snapped and her whole thin little body quivered with indignation. ‘‘ A murder is a decent crime compared to spy work! Oh, my nice Mr. Rivers!” She broke down and cried convulsively. ‘Let her alone,” said Wise, not unkind- ly, after a brief glance at the shaking little figure. ‘‘ She’s always better for a crying spell. It clears her atmosphere. Now, Brice, let’s get busy. As Zizi says, you must admit that there’s no doubt that Amos Gately was pretty deeply into the game. Even if he was unduly friendly with Sadie Kent, it was indubitably through and be- cause of their dealings together in the stolen telegram business. ‘“‘ The way I see it, is that Sadie sold her intercepted messages to the highest bidder. This was George Rodman, but above him “You said he 137 was Amos Gately. Oh, don’t look so in- credulous. It isn’t the first time a bank president has gone wrong—on the side. Gately never was unfaithful to his office, he never misappropriated funds or anything of that sort, but for some reason or other, whether money gain, or hope of other re- ward, he did betray his country.” I couldn’t deny it—or, rather, I could deny it, but only because of my still un- shattered faith in Amos Gately. I could bring no proof of my denial. ‘ But,” I said musingly, “we haven’t yet proved Gately mixed up in—” ‘“‘ What!” cried. Wise. ‘“ Isn’t this enough proof? These blank letters, for that’s what they are—the proved visit here of Sadie, the Link, and the fact that Gately was shot —by some one—with no known reason— all that goes to show that the murderer had some secret motive, some unknown cause for getting Gately out of the way.” ‘““T see it, as you put it,” I said, “ but I will not believe Amos Gately a spy—or con- niving at spy business until I have.to. I shall continue to believe he was a tool—an innocent tool, of the Rodman and Sadie Kent combination.” ‘All right, Brice, keep your faith as long as you can, but, I can tell you, you’ll soon have to admit that I’m right. Gately, as we all know, was a peculiar man. He had few friends, he had little or no social life, and he did have secret callers and a secret mode of entrance and exit from his offices. All this shows something to hide—it is un- explainable for a man who has nothing to conceal.” ‘ All right, Wise,” I said finally, “‘ I sup- pose you are right. But still we must con- tinue our search for the murderer. We don’t seem to progress much in that mat- ter.” ‘* Not yet, but soon,” Wise said optimis- tically; ‘“‘ the ax is laid at the root of the tree—we are on the right track—”’ “Meaning Case Rivers?” I cried in alarm. ‘““ Meaning Case Rivers — perhaps,” he returned. ‘I’m not as sure as Zizi is that the evidence points to him as the murderer, but.we must conclude that he was in this Conn Ghook CO