Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

4S his words, had indicated that Bradwell’s former employers were not popular in marine insurance circles. Were they be- ginning to suspect the dubious practises that Bradwell had resented? Jest then the door of the inner office, into which the manager had gone, opened a crack. ‘““ Hang on to him by all means,” came a voice from within. ‘“ He might make a valuable witness. May have just the evidence we lack.” Bradwell heard and acted almost auto- matically. His surmise was correct. The last thing he could afford to have happen just now was to be called as a witness against Guthrie and his crowd. The outer door lay directly in front of him. In a half dozen steps he had reached it and a moment later was in the elevator. “Foolish to be beating it like this, per- haps,” he thought as he reached the street. ‘They couldn’t make me stick around any longer than I wished, unless they had a subpena. all ready. I might have got the lay of things if I’d waited a bit. At that, perhaps it’s safest to be very absent.” Just at this moment he happened to glance across the street in time to see a stocky figure slip out of sight through a saloon door. He recognized a private de- tective he had seen occasionally in Guthrie’s office.” “ Shadowed, eh?” Bradwell exclaimed. “They seem to be after me going and coming and returing back. These guys up-stairs may have a process-server after me any minute. And my late boss is so anxious about he he’s hiring a plug-ugly to watch my moves. Now he’ll know I’ve been to the Great Lakes people and think I’m going to squeal. So next thing will be to beat me to it by pulling that fake arrest. Here’s where I evaporate! Noth- ing doing on railroads, though! They’d watch those. I'll lie low a few days till they relax.” By a devious route, he satisfied himself he’d thrown off his shadow, then in a little café he sat over a succession of cups of coffee until dark. Then he sought out a cheap boarding-house section and an hour later had secured a room. ? THE ARGOSY. Here for several days he kept in re- tirement, going out for exercise only in the evening. He watched the papers, but saw no mention_of the Great Lakes Com- pany, or of Guthrie, Sandford and Pierson. One evening he was returning late to his room, when he became conscious of a dim figure across the dark street that seemed to keep pace with him. He walked faster. So did the shadow. He slowed up. So did the other. He turned off his route and around several corners. The shadow was no longer in sight. ‘““ Guess my nerves played me a trick,” he thought. Then he sought a street sign to see where he was. In his preoccupation with his supposed pursuer he had lost him- self for the moment in the warehouse sec- tion down near the wharves, black and deserted at night. He had just discovered the name of a street he recognized and turned down it, when he heard a rush behind him. He whirled and dodged instinctively as a heavy figure hurled itself upon him. A Stinging blow from a blackjack numbed his left arm. It had presumably been meant for his head. With his good arm, Bradwell dealt the fellow a punch that sent him staggering back into range of the dull gleam of a street lamp. A momentary glimpse of the man’s face revealed the private detective Guthrie had sent to shadow him. Instead of returning to the attack the fellow turned and walked rapidly around the corner just as a policeman hurried up from the other direction. Bradwell in a fury, not noticing the of- ficer, was starting after his fleemg foe when he felt himself seized by the collar, and the voice of the law announced triumphantly: ‘“T’ve got ye, ve thug! Just come along peaceful!” “Get that man!” Bradwell exclaimed. “He tried to blackjack me me.” ‘““G’wan with that stuff! I seen ye smash him. I’m thinkin’ yer the guy we’ve had the tip to look out for. It’s the sta- tion-house fer yours an’ no more argu- men unless ye want me to wind me club round yer bean.” COMmiiclooo SS (CO