Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 2, 1922 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

‘488 ‘the big building, a foundation raising the house from the first down-pitch of the hill and as massive as the buttress of a cathe- dral, rising to a considerable distance be- fore it was pierced by any window. Around the edge of the wall the wind roared with ominous voice, but the angle of the building protected Kain from the draft. He lighted a cigarette and inhaled the smoke in long puffs. The occasional glow drew his face out of the night, etching it roughly in splotches of gray and utter black, and it appeared by this crude illumination deeply drawn and haggard, as of one who has just completed a period of intense physical and mental stress and now for the first time allows himself to relax. Having smoked the cigarette to the very tip, he tossed the butt aside and took his way down the hill with a step less jaunty than the one with which he had mounted. Now he struck straight across the park, while the wind supported him from behind and helped on his progress; in spite of which aid he reached the door of his house at length with short and weary steps. At the entrance he paused a moment and faced about into the wind, drawing deep breaths as if he sought to borrow needed vitality from the force of the gale; then he turned into the house humming softly, turned the switch which lighted the living room, and found there, ensconced in the most comfortable chair, Bud Gainer. Kain drew several bills from his wallet and passed them to the thief in silence. “T suppose that ends our affair,” he said, and slipped down into a corner of the davenport. His body was relaxed. His arm lay languidly at his side, the fingers trailing down over the edge of the cushion. Only his eye was indomitably alert. Bud Gainer counted over the money carefully and examined each bill suspicious- ly; then he pecketed the parcel and regard- ed Kain with a gradually spreading grin. ‘Tt ain’t the end,” he announced. “ It’s only a small-sized beginning.” Kain lighted a cigarette, and now he re- garded the burning end with deep atten- tion. He said, without raising his eyes from this study: “I am very tired. If you must talk, be brief.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘““Speed’s my middle name,” said the thief. ‘‘ Your game was pretty, all right, and maybe I wouldn’t of tumbled, bo, if I hadn’t of recognized your bird. [ didn’t while I was working on him, but on my way back I remembered something out of a newspaper and [ stops and says to myself: Robert Stanley Raeburn—no other but him!” “Right,” nodded Kain. Stanley Raeburn.”’ “Sure, I’m right. That’s why I say this ain’t more’n a beginning of our acquaint- ance. The first five hundred is O. K.; five hundred more ‘Il just about start things going, maybe!” Since Kain made no answer to this ap- proach, Gainer continued: ‘“ There’ll be plenty to split both ways. Well, who’d of thought we’d ever get chummy like this!” Kain looked up at him at last. So a stu- dent studies a strange form of germ life under the microscope, and Gainer stirred under this impersonal gaze. “Oh, I know you’re smooth,” he said. ** Didn’t I see you work when you got me clear of the dicks back in the big noise? If you could work the dicks you can work old R. S. Raeburn for a pot of coin. And that’s why I hang around till you split fair and square.” Kain sighed. “Look here!” broke out Gainer impa- tiently. ‘‘ Ye ain’t going to have no trouble. I know you’re one of us for all your fancy ways. I only want you to whack up even. That’s all. But don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. Kain, I know you. Why, bo, nobody but an old-timer could shoot the way you do. Look here!” He touched a little red mark in the center of his forehead. “That second blank had something in it, and that something hit me here. Good shooting. Kain, a damned sight too good. ““He’s Robert JI ask you again: do you whack up or do I have to find Robert Stanley Raeburn and blow your game?” “You will find him in the house of Charles Stirling,” said Kain. Gainer drew a long breath. “ You think you got him fixed so he won’t listen to me?” COL IGbooksS.com