Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

296 merely signing it ‘“ A. C. B.” This was his query: “Do you know that you can be sent to jail for pulling this fake stuff? Do you know that the officers of the law are watch- ing you?” There was an awesome silence, while the assistant was waving a certain message over the head of Ruth Mauve. She grabbed at the air with her little fingers, and seemed to be having difficulty in getting connec- tion. “I am in touch with—with B.,” she an- nounced, in agitation. Two officers of the law squirmed un- easily in their respective seats. ‘““T am in touch with A. C. B.—Bender, Benson, Bendle—oh, I cannot get it!” cried Ruth Mauve. “ There is a hostile influence which makes it difficult. I feel at once that he is skeptical, that he does not trust me, that he doubts the efficacy of my powers. But I feel that he is here as the agent of G.—of G. G. B. Is that right, B? Oh, answer me!”’ Bendleworth, silent and astounded, did not dare to answer. ‘He does not reply! It is hard to es- tablish the proper bond of sympathetic thought with skeptical persons, but the question that he sends to me is— Do you know that the officers of the law are watch- ing you?’ I reply: B., do you know that you, also, are being watched? Go to your superior, if you dare, and tell him that you are conspiring against him.”’ Chief of Police Broggan crouched low in his seat while Chief of Detectives Bendle- worth was leaving the theater. Next day he asked his aid carelessly what he thought of Ruth Mauve. “ Fake, pure and simple!” sneered Ben- dleworth. ‘ You ought to run her out of town! They work it some way with the trick pad they use, and some local guy tips them off about who’s in the audience. Then they’ve probably got a bunch of confeder- ates in the audience who swear she’s an- swered them right. It’s criminal to let a mountebank like that rob the people.” “All right,” said Broggan. _ ‘‘ You get the evidence, and we'll act. But I under- stand the mayor went around to her show THE ARGOSY. and came away all enthusiastic about her. He says there’s no fake to this telepathy business.” ‘The mayor’s a bright lad, he is!” A prison trusty came to the door of the chief’s office. ‘Lady to see you, sir,” he said. ‘ Her name is Miss Ruth Movie, or something.” The chief of police and the chief of detec- tives exchanged glances. ‘Show her in,” Broggan directed. guess we can talk to her for a minute.” The lady who was ushered in wore a gown of shimmering gray, and a veil of the same color which gave her eyes a baffling, elusive expression. “YT am Ruth Mauve,” said the visitor. “Ts this the chief of police?” Chief Broggan nudged nervously closer to Bendleworth, whom she had addressed. “This is the chief of police. What can I do for you?” ‘““T have come to consult you upon an im- portant matter.” ‘“ Maybe she’s lost a diamond ring, and wants us to give it the second-sight once- over for her,” snickered Bendleworth. The telepathist turned her shining eyes upon the chief of detectives, and all at once his face went red. “T’ve got to be going, chief,’ he added hastily. Then he reached for his hat and made an unceremonious exit. “T don’t know that man,” said Ruth Mauve slowly. ‘‘ But, immediately I came into his presence, I was inspired with dis- trust. It may be wrong to say it, but in- tuition calls to me from within like a voice through a megaphone.” “That is Chief of Detectives Bendle- worth, who—” ‘““ Ah, I have met him then,” interrupted the girl. ‘I felt sure I had been in contact with him mentally. He asked me an im- pertinent question the other night, conceal- ing his name from me, but signing the initials A. C. B.” “Your memory’s a pedia,”” gasped the chief. “1 forget nothing. I do not forget, for instance, that you inquired of me whether or not you would be reappointed. I do not forget that I gave you a warning, but I am ee regular encyclo- LOA AILICE JOOKS