Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECOND-SEER. in doubt whether or not you understood, and that is why I am here.” Chief Broggan was oppressed by a spooky influence:* What supernatural power gave this woman detailed information about his personal affairs? If she could read one thing in his mind, why not another, perhaps more embarrassing thing? He shifted uncomfortably in his revolving desk-chair. “Have you—have you something more to tell me?” ‘‘T experienced a strong presentiment.the night Bendleworth was in the audience, that you were in a position that required ammediate action,” she replied earnestly. “There is some one near you, a trusted as- sociate, who is conspiring to wrong you. That is all the warning that I can give, but the impulse to voice it was so insistent that I came to see you.” ‘““ Don’t you know his—his name?” whis- pered the chief hoarsely. “IT do not. I have tried long and vainly to fashion this thought into intelligible words, but all I can say is that you must watch those around you.” The chief mopped his brow. “There is one more thing!” she added suddenly. ‘“ There is a thought impulse that suggests Fourth— Fourth Ward. That’s it! An alderman, and Honduras! Is there an alderman from the Fourth Ward in Honduras?” Chief Broggan grew pale with amaze- ment. “What the devil do you know about that?” he demanded, dumfounded. Ruth Mauve smiled vaguely. “The trouble is, I don’t know enough! But there seems an instinctive voice telling me that an alderman from the Fourth Ward is connected in some way with this under- handed enemy of yours. If you ever have occasion to refer to what I have said, I feel that it would be profitable to you.” Broggan shook her hand dazedly when she departed. He felt the magnetism of her presence long after she had gone. “Well, I’m jiggered!” he recapitulated, after a while. “I never took any stock in dreams and fortune tellers, but this one— gosh!” 297 He pondered at length over what she had told him. He could conceive of no one “high in his organization,’ who could be plotting against him—least of all Bendle- worth, to whom Ruth Mauve seemed to have taken a bitter dislike. He could not connect the missing Fourth Ward alderman —a forgotten absconder who had made away with the funds of a certain bank, seven years ago—with this uncanny. affair. The police commission was expected very shortly to announce the reappointment of the chief of police. Broggan had no reason to doubt that he would be retained, but Ruth Mauve had conjured up a shadow of uncertainty. What influence, if any, was being brought to bear to rob him of his re- appointment? Who could it— Bang! Chief Broggan’s ample feet came to the floor with the emphasis of inspiration. He reached for the telephone and snapped out a number. “Ts this the office of the police commis- sion?” he growled. ‘‘ The secretary? All right. This is the office of Bendleworth, chief of detectives. Look up that applica- tion for me, will you?” He waited stolidly until the voice came back on the wire. ‘Did you want a copy of the charges, too?” asked the secretary of the police com- mission. ‘Charges? Oh, yes. Everything. Send them right over, will you?” Chief Broggan crumpled back into his chair and scowled menacingly at the wall. ‘So it’s Bendleworth!” he muttered. “The dirty dog! And I raised him from a The messenger from the police commis- sion arrived very shortly with a fat envelope for Chief of Detectives Bendleworth. ‘Is Chief Bendleworth in?” he inquired. ‘No, you can leave it,” grumbled the chief of police. “‘ He’ll be here pretty soon.” Broggan waited, a volcano of wrath on the verge of eruption. Presently the door opened, and Bendle- worth casually walked in. ‘Well, chief,” he greeted heartily, “ did you get through with the fortune teller?”’ ‘Sit down,” commanded Broggan gruffly. Bendleworth took a seat opposite the “GOmMIGDOOKS (E@)