Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

228 now he was on the next street and still walking and nobody had hailed him! For sheer luck, it beat even some former happy spots in William’s rather. lucky career. He sauntered on, ever more swiftly; he came to the car and Annabel, turning suddenly from her gloomy station beside it, emitted a single delighted squeal: “You did it!” “TI did it!” ““You’re a dear!” breathed little Mrs. Elton, as she accepted the _ treasure. * You’re sure he haan’t seen it?” * Well, I didn’t stop to ask him about it.” “What if he /as seen it?” ee Weli—” “You know, if—if I go home and Jackie knows that bag was in the house all the time, Vil—J’ll die!” As a possibility it was entertaining, to be sure. William preferred to close his eyes to it; Mrs. Elton’s eyes, however, were very wide open. “You're not going to—leave me alone?”’ “T can’t go back with you!” William gasped. “No, but I meant that, if Jackie does know that I’m telling a lie, [’ll have to tell him the whole truth and I can’t do that alone. J can’t. You'll have to be there to help me!” “ How?” William asked blankly. “You'll just have to appear naturally in your own house,” said Annabel, with a firmness that was almost stubbornness. “ You might wait and—and then roll into your own yard in about ten minutes.” 6 But—”’ “Oh, yes, and then you can come over —as a perfect stranger, you know—and that ‘ll be better, because if everything’s all right it will furnish an—what is it—an alibi? It will show that we never saw each other before. You can just come over and introduce yourself and ask something about the baker or the trains; and if I’m safe I'll give you some kind of sign and then you can hurry away again. You'll do that?”’ ‘* Well—” William began again wretch- edly. Because it meant more wasted time! It—he looked at Annabel and, even again, cast aside his own troubles. Annabel’s lips were trembling. THE ARGOSY. ‘““You—you don’t want to do it!” she accused him. ‘ You want to leave me to face it all alone, after all—”’ ‘“ T’ve no idea of anything of the kind!” William said quickly. “ You run along home, child, and I’ll be there in five or six minutes.”’ “And you'll go into your own house and —and do everything naturally and not as if you were rushing it through? Because Jackie’s an awfully keen observer and he’s suspicious when other people would never think of being suspicious.” William laughed reassurance, although there was little laughter in him. ‘* Jackie ‘ll never suspect me. I promise you that. Now hurry!” | She squeezed his hand gratefully and sped away, her grip swinging. William, with a groan, resumed his place behind the wheel. At the very least, it meant fifteen precious minutes. Yes, and more likely twenty or twenty-five! And there was no earthly reason for this last wait, either! Whatever Annabel’s opinion of him, the infernal Jackie was no wizard. William groaned again as he tapped with his feet on the floor of his car—tapped and grunted and talked to himself and then, after a decent interval, started suddenly and rolled up Griston Avenue. There would be no such thing as staring into the Elton home, of course, and then shooting ahead if all seemed serene. Wil- liam sighed and turned into his own drive- way. Whistling, he stopped the car beside his future home. Whistling, he leaped up the steps and opened its door. And now—five minutes by the watch! William counted them off, cursing each one with deep feeling, but he smiled at the end of the last. Freedom was in sight! The very briefest of visits next door and—away! William, every inch the pleasant, happy, friendly neighbor, stepped gaily down, considered the house next door apparently as a new thought, seemed to make up his mind and walked rapidly around the end of the hedge and across the lawn. Nothing untoward was happening in there. Through the screen William ob- served two figures in the drawing-room— two figures as one, because Elton was hold- Eomicbooks. et ee