Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

240 to reclaim her treasure. Irawadi Ruby hugged to her breast, in a transport of joy, she next turned —— to Alan for ex- planation. That young man, displaying the guilty flush of shocked innecence, found himself tongue-tied. It was the master who mur- mured hesitatingly: “ The thing got into Alan’s case, some way.” Remembrance of all her mental anguish induced by the loss, suddenly burned in Madame Anna’s consciousness. She flew into a violent temper. ‘Some way?” she mocked. “ Very like- ly! Probably the mysterious way in which jewels always disappear! A clever story— that may fascinate the police.” She darted to the door. ~“ Anna, what are you about?” demanded Reitelman, as he stepped excitedly forward. ‘“There’s some mistake—some accident. Why, the boy is as guiltless as I am! You don’t suppose he’d deliberately show it here, if he’d taken it? Listen to reason.” “Tt’s a matter fer the police to reason out,’ was the acrimonious response with which Madame Anna passed from the room. The husband hurried after her. Presently he returned, crestfallen, and said in a sub- dued voice: “Tm afraid you’re in for it, my boy. Women are so confoundedly unreasonable! ”’ After a pause, he asked, with grave gen- tleness; ‘‘ How do you imagine the chain got in there?” “T don’t know,” slowly responded the agitated young musician. At the same in- stant there came to him a vision of the sharp-faced young man at the inn, who. had been led away by the detectives and a sus- picion was-born.* - Reitelman grew thoughtful, and a shade embarrassed. Alan possessed the master’s entire confidence. Yet the boy’s strange fits of absent-mindedness, lately—his pecu- liar lethargy— A very ugly chain of cir- cumstantial evidence—to place the kindest construction upon it all. “See here, Alan. If you'd prefer to— er-r—retire ‘quietly, until the affair is straightened out, I’ll seg you’re not hindered in leaving this house. Might save you a little unpleasantness, you know.” THE ARGOSY, ment impatiently, as he responded: os The young man now braced himself, and quickly replied with spirit: “ Certainly net, sir! The only thing to do is to face it, and try to clear myself.” 3 They both started when, a long half hour later, the bell rang. Detective Gerson also presently gave a start of surprise, at seeing Alan. “Hello!” he ejaculated, eae a soft whistle. plays in the Eche’s hotel?” Alan confusedly admitted the fact. ‘‘ In cahoots with Telowitz; eh? Thought it looked like an inside job.” Turning on the detective, who was beam- ing with pride of achievement and acumen, Karl Reitelman snapped: ‘“ That talk will keep.”’ : ‘‘ Sure, Mr. Reitelman; I’m off ’s soon ’s I put a bracelet on this dangerous young crook;” and he rattled the handcuffs sug- gestively. “Remember, Alan,” said Karl Reitel- man, averting his eyes, “if I can do any- thing for yeu, be sure I will. My best hopes, boy!” Indeed, Alan must have taken all Reitel- man’s hopes with him, for the master ap- peared even more disconsolate than he was puzzled. Yet Alan himself seemed hardly cheerful while he was conducted to headquarters, put through a grilling examination, and— despite protest—made well acquainted with the Bertillon system. Incidentally, he was held ona charge of grand larceny. Barely a half hour after the musician had become the occupant of free but un- desirable ledgings, there occurred a mysteri- ous phone call. One “end of the wire” “ Aren’t you the young man ene was almost at headquarters itself; the other, » at the “ office” desk of the mistress of the - House of the Echo. And not more than two hours from this time, several exasperated men were gathered in an office of the Detective Bureau. In front of a gray-haired gentleman—evident- ly a high official—was a decument of legal aspect at which he frowned. ‘“ Nothing to it, I suppose, but let him go,” said a voice. ‘The gray-haired man, tapped the docu- ‘“* What (&©) JOO AACE CS (E@)