Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

oy pletely through, and then picking up a pad of blank paper that lay near him on the center table, began to peruse it again, mak- ing careful notes. He had no idea how long he was taking. Minute after minute passed, stretching into hours. Still he read and wrote. He began to be drowsy. His eyes became painful, and under the strain of constant use, the bright gaslight seemed to be fading and the room growing dark. With an effort he roused himself, sweep- ing a hand over his forehead, and stumbling to his feet. The room was certainly gloomy! Or was he asleep? He was so tired—so drowsy! The place was close and warm— no wonder. And with that curious per- fumery so strong. He lurched across toward the door he re- membered having seen the man leave open, meaning to go through it and find some air. The corner of the table was in his way and he caromed round it. At last he reached the doorway and found the knob. It had blown shut while he was busy, and got latched — he twisted the knob, pushed, pulled, tugged in vain, and crumpled down inertly at the threshold. CHAPTER IV. AN OPEN WINDOW. T seemed an endless stretch of time be- fore Bruce Tarton’s senses glimmered back. Dreams he had at first—of hairy men being strangled by raging mummy cases, of mysterious dives full of beautiful furniture and flowers, where a tribe of great apes lived, pulling screaming girls from the public library about by the hair. Again and again frightful screams echoed through the fantasy. It was his. library girl, he thought, calling him frantically by name to go to her. He sat bolt upright, his head swimming and throbbing agonizedly, but his senses quiveringly alert. It had been a long time, he vaguely realized, since he had tried to open that door and fallen flat before it. The old man had drugged him. Was it yesterday, or a week ago? He swept his hands about experimentally. THE ARGOSY. He was lying on a bed, fully dressed. After he had flopped, he had been brought up here. So much was clear, and it was also quite clear why he had been allowed to take his time going through those maga- zines—and why the secrets of the study had been so carelessly exposed. Some one has said: ‘A little knowledge is a dan- gerous thing.” Well, how about a lot— like this? Tarton mused grimly. He had too much ever to see daylight again, that was sure. He swung his feet over the edge to the floor, and made an attempt to stand. It was a rank failure. He crumpled to his knees and hands. Laboriously he pulled himself up by the bed and tried again, with the same result. His knees were water, his head like the tympanum of a drum, throbbing at every heart-beat. Dejectedly he sank to the bed again. Then he lifted his head, startled. From somewhere a breath of cool air had struck his forehead, blown for a moment, then ceased. After a few seconds, another puff. A window was open somewhere in the room. Eagerly he faced it, dropped to the floor, and started wallowing over on hands and knees. In two minutes he had reached the sill and crouched on the floor beneath, his chin on the cold woodwork, looking up at the yellow stars in the black sky, drinking in the crisp breeze in great gulps. It was a godsend, this! The fellow had been mighty careless to overlook it. Nothing else would have re- vived him; nothing else would have given him the strength that was now surging | back, second by second. Suddenly he started, thrilling with con- viction. The thing hadn’t been an accident! Of course the hairy man would have seen— or felt—the draft and closed it. The con- clusion was immediate, irresistible—it had been opened afterward—by some one else —on purpose! He sprang to his feet and crossed the room, weakness banished. Something had set him on fire. His blood was tingling. It was a girl’s voice, crying out for mercy | and for help. In the lonely pitch black- ness of the place it was a tremendously blood-chilling thing. It sounded long-drawn Pe Bhi teen ey Pht 1 eT eel ay Md set ° a ras Vig 1 at Al i eA ewe | Ae) LALA ar