Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

“a copy of a magazine. You offered a liberal reward. You wish to see it very particu- larly. There is something of utmost im- portance in it that you cannot do without. Why do you not apply to a library—to the publishers? There should be two or three dozen places at the least—”’ “There should be—but there aren’t,”’ said Tarton, looking at him severely. “‘ And the reason is peculiar—these places have lost their copies—through theft. They have all been stolen. Curious, isn’t it?” The stout man’s piglike eyes flickered to the floor as Tarton spoke; then flashed up at him, twinkling shrewdly. ‘““Stolen!”’ he exclaimed. ‘“ All stolen, eh? Not a copy to be found!” “ Yes—did you take them?” Tarton said abruptly. ’ The man stiffened and his face hardened ominously. “That was a foolish question, young man,” he answered. ‘ Very foolish indeed. It shows that you have no discretion. For the third time to-night you prove your lack of judgment.- You are not to be trusted. T will talk with you no longer. You have not told me how much you will give to see the magazine, but we will let that go. From your clothes I see that you are poor, and I will take nothing. Your conversation is also discourteous, but I will forget that, for I have promised. Come this way; I will show it to you; then you shall go. Come into my study.” As he spoke, the man turned out the dight, so that they were again in complete darkness. Tarton heard him turn and go scraping off to the right, calling over his ‘shoulder: ‘“‘ Come this way. I will light a match.” 7 Tarton hesitated. Here was his chance ‘to bolt. In a half second he could turn, cover the three steps to the door and be in the street. This fellow was a madman or worse. Whether he was the proprietor of the house or not, his terrible hands were ‘unquestionably responsible for what lay there behind the half-open door. There was no doubt that he suspected Tarton of hav- ing been into the room and seen. It would be madness to go farther into that unknown ‘house to put himself utterly into his power. THE ARGOSY, He hesitated, half turned, felt in his rear pocket for the automatic, and turned back. Well down the corridor the tiny flame had blazed out, and by its light the burly figure turned the corner. Tarton took his hand out of his pocket and followed. They traversed the length of the hall, passing more than one closed door, and finally entered a small room at its extreme end, whose door stood open. Here the host, closing it sharply, lighted a green-shaded drop light on the center table, and gruffly bade Tarton to be seated. Instead, he re- ~mained standing, peering about. It was instantly evident that the place was exactly what the fellow had called it— a study. And a luxurious one, too. On the floor was a magnificent, dark-red Oriental rug with silky fibers an inch long. The square table in its center was of ma- hogany, massive, beautiful with inlaid work. Rows on rows of books covered the four walls from ‘floor to ceiling. In a corner a roll-top desk was littered with papers. In another a curious sort of statue at least five feet high, its base covered with weird fig- ures carved in yellow and vermilion, re- clined against the wall. On the table were several queerly shaped ornaments of hand-beaten gold, also a paper cutter with ivory handle, a small long vase of alabaster with seven fluted sides, a minia- ‘ture statue of a jade figure with the body of a man and the head of a ram. Tarton bent nearer to examine it, but the harsh voice of the bearded man cut in on him. “Here, young fellow,” he growled, “ is what you wished; the Magazine of Archeo- logy, volume forty-three, new series. There are twelve numbers. It will probably re- quire some time to go through them and find what you wish. Sit down in that easy- chair and take your leisure. I am going out for a little—into the other room. I have some work to finish. When you get through, knock on that door and I. will come and say good night to you.” Without a word or a backward glance he had departed by the door on the opposite side of the room, leaving it open a few inches behind him. After he had gone, Tarton sank numbly A "€omicbooks.cor a arity MEP Oe bere PA) REA SH? ol Shad RR T ONY eA HMA MLN ere Me ene lle See ame SURO A aA NTH Og — i = en ee ~ Zz ——