Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

TRACING THE SHADOW. womanhood. I have worshiped her from the first moment I saw her. But, under- stand, I have no hopes—no aspirations. I shall never offer my hand and heart to any woman, while I have no name to offer. And I shall never have a name. If I haven't yet discovered my own identity I never can. No, I’m no pessimist, and I know . that some time, some sudden shock might restore my memory all in a minute, yet I can’t bank on such a possibility. ‘“T’ve talked this over with Rankin— he’s the doctor who’s following up my case —time and again. He says that a sudden and a very forcible shock is needed to re- store my memory, and that it may come in my lifetime, and—it may not. He says it can’t be forced or brought about knowing- ly—it will have to be a coincidence—a hap- pening that will jar the inert cells of my brain—or, something like that—I don’t re- member the scientific terms.” Rivers passed his hand wearily across his forehead. I was in a quandary. I had gone to see the man with full purpose of luring him to Gately’s office and confronting him with the sketched snowflake on the blotting pad. Now, since he had confided to me his love for Olive Raynor, I shrank from doing any- thing that might prove him to be Amos Gately’s murderer. For I was fond of Miss Raynor, in a deeply respectful and unpre- sumptuous fashion. And I had noticed sev- eral things of late that made me feel pretty sure that her friendship for Rivers was true and deep, if, indeed, it were not something more than friendship. This, to be sure, would argue but a fickle loyalty to the memory of Amory Manning, but as Norah and I agreed, when talking it over, Miss Raynor had never shown any desperate grief at Manning’s disappearance—at least, not more than the loss of a casual friend might arouse. But I knew where my duty lay. And so, I said: “ Rivers, I wish you’d go round to Mr. Gately’s office with me. Don’t you think that if you were there—and you never have been—you might chance upon some clue that has escaped the notice of Wise or Hudson or myself?” “ Right-o!” he said. ‘‘ I’ve thought my- 139 self, I’d like to go there. Not, as you politely suggest, to find overlooked clues, but just as a matter of general interest. I’m out, you know, to find the murderer—and also to trace the vanished Amory Manning.” CHAPTER XVII. ZIZI’S HUNCH. *“*LJE’S afraid,’ and Norah wagged her head sagaciously, while her gray eyes had an apprehensive expression. ‘‘ Afraid of what?” “Afraid of the truth. You see, Mr. Brice, our friend Rivers is nobody’s fool. He’s onto most points regarding this case, and now, he’s getting onto himself. That astute little scrap of humanity, Zizi, knows he is.. Of course, living with Miss Raynor as she does, she has opportunities every day to see Mr. Rivers, for he’s eternally hang- ing around the Raynor house. Oh, I don’t mean he’s an idler; not by a long shot. On the contrary, his middle name is efficiency! He puts over a lot of work in a day.” ‘What sort of work, and how do you know so much about him?”’ We were in my office, waiting for Rivers, who had promised to come to see me, and to look into the Gately rooms. It was now nearly half an hour after the time he had set for his call, and as it was not his habit to be tardy, I was surprised. I had begun to look upon Rivers as a man of importance not only in the matters with which we were associated, but he showed so much general ability and force of character that I won- dered who or what he would turn out to be. For I felt sure he would find himself, and even if he never discovered who he had been, he would make a new name and a well-worth-while individuality for himself yet. Norah, too, admired him, and seemed to know as much of his capabilities, or more, than I did myself. ‘““T don’t know just what sort of work, but I think it’s connected with the mysteries we're up against ourselves. And I know about him, because Zizi tells me. She sees everything he does—when she’s with him, I mean. Not a gesture or motion escapes her cComicloool< CO