Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

wi Ae ; THE YELLOW EMERALD. man, to proceed about this matter as [ direct.” “Yow won’t say a word till F agree to do as’ you’ direct,” repeated the conmmissioner with a smile. ‘“ I wonder, Mr. Brace Tar- ton, if yow have ever heard of the third degree?” “Tt takes time. I could hold out quite a while. Meanwhile a second murder, more horrible than the first, will have beem com- mitted, and the mam will have escaped.. In- deed, this may have takem place already. It is because I want to prevent it, if possi- ble, and because of the very delicate cir- cumstances involved—which no one but I can thorewghly understand om such short notice—that | am asking you to make am unusual arramgement. Give me a man—” “Give you a man! Send one with you, you. nrean—” “Tt doesn’t matter. I would have te tell him what to do, amyway—just. one, and if this monster is still in New York, VID get him for you. Otherwise—- “Well, otherwise?” ‘Farton shrugged. “Tve nothimg more to say. Youw'll club me around, get nothing, send out your dtag- net, and comb the towm. As socom as this bird gets wind he cracks: the girl’s neck,. too —always providing, as I teld you, that he hasn’t yet done rt, or ism’t at this very minute doing it while yow are wasting tinte—’’ ‘* He-—cracks her neck!’ gasped the arm- chair mam, sitting up incredulously. “ What do yow mean, man? You're crazy! What girl-—” “ Don’t ask questions, commissioner,’’ in- terrupted Tarton. “I said he would crack her neck. That’s what he did to Fisher. What he would have done to me if— The girl’s his stepdaughter, commissioner, and I love her. I’m telling yow the truth. It’s the only way it cam be managed.. Please—’’ There was a long moment while the: chief hesitated. Then, beckoning over his shoul- der, he summoned Deteetive Smith, thin- faced, keen, astute. “You heard it all, Jake,” he said. “I’m going to take the chance that this chap is straicht and sober. Ge with him and see what's im this. Try to do what he wants— 259 if he doesn’t go: too far. But use your head all the time—and get this man.” CHAPTER IX. THE PICTURE MADNESS. SMITH and Tarton, a half-hour later, found they were going to like eacix other, They were killing time down Broadway. Tarton had told the other all he kmew about the case—how it had started, andi every- thing up: to the moment. They had decided to wait till dark—now mot far away, since it was essential to make their entrance un- observed. “TI don’t suppose you would trust me with a gun,” remarked Tartom. ‘“ F had one last night, but Heldstrim took it. If we should get to close quarters—” “T guess: you'll do,” smiled the detective, “but I don’t, as a rule, carry two. Let’s go back and get one.”’ Which they did. And some two hours: later, bringing dusk and mystery to the purlieus of Pearmain Court, saw them gliding like shadows down, the: five-foot wide alley that opened into the back yard Tartom had looked down upon from his: prisom window. It was so dark that without their they could not have seen the lower end of the fire-escape Finally they came beneath it. quiet reigned within. “ Here we are,’ whispered Tarton. ‘ There’s: the end of that thing we’ve got to climb up—ten feet over our heads. Of course he may not be here.”’ Smith grunted. Utter ° “ Well, if he isn’t, it’s up to you. I sup- pose you know that. This show’s om your responsibility. Here, hold the light while L pitch up this: rope.” It was a coil of small flexible cord that he pulled from his: pocket. ‘“ Flezzolo: whip-cord,”’ he: grunted, cast- ing it aloft.. “ Strong as steel Ah!” At the second throw the weighted end fell over amirémrung. Paying out the slack he lowered it till the ends met. He tied them ‘together. ‘“T cam climb up that,” he smiled. “ Cam you?”