Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

862 tour and coloring. The lips were quiver- ing, and the eyes were swollen with weep- ing. ‘“’'Y-you’re — you’re Dr, Nancy Day- land,” she began, ‘‘ and I—I—” Her voice was choked with sobs. Nancy gently helped her. ‘‘ You’re Doro- thy Cavendish,” she said quietly. The girl nodded miserably. ‘I thought you would never come and help me.” ‘Then you knew I was here?”’ “Yes. I heard your voice and some one addressed you by name.” ‘Then you must also know here.”’ ‘Oh, I do, I do. ened to death, turn.” ce Whye” ‘“‘ Because my father did not know that I was coming here this morning on something quite private and of which he would not approve.” “Even so, when you learned what had happened, why didn’t you hurry out?” ‘“‘ Because I didn’t want to be seen here. I—I’m not supposed to be here at all.” ‘“‘' Where are you supposed to be?” “In Mr. Kent’s office.” “ Then why are you here?” ‘“‘T just slipped in here for a moment for —On—s “Well?” ‘“T had a sudden idea. As I was ahead of my appointment, I—I thought I’d come here first.” “Did you come here directly you en- tered the building?” 6¢ Yes.”’ ‘Did either Mr, Strong or Mr. Case ex- pect you?” “Oh, no. My idea came very suddenly.” ‘What was this idea?” “Oh, please, I’d rather not say now.” “ What time did you get here?” “At twenty minutes of twelve.” ‘“‘ You are positive?” “Ves, I looked at my watch. That’s how I knew I was early for my appoint- ment.” “Then you must have seen another per- son enter—some one who came at the same time ” why I am And I’ve been fright- I haven’t known how to ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The girl’s face was white and startled. ‘You m-m-mean my father? But I didn’t —I swear I didn’t. I hadn’t any idea he was coming here, I didn’t know it until— the terrible thing happened.” She began to weep convulsively. “No,” enlightened Nancy, “I did not mean Mr. Cavendish. He did not come un- til later. I meant your aunt, Miss Green- wood.” Dorothy looked up quickly. ‘‘ Oh, yes, Aunt Ivy came with me in a taxi.” ‘““ ‘Where did she go?” “To wait in Mr. Kent’s reception room while I came here.” “Did your aunt know why you were coming to Mr. Kent’s offices?” “Of course. I asked her to come with me for my appointment.” “Neither Mr. Kent nor Mr. Shoreham knew that your aunt was coming with vou?” “How could they? I didn’t tell them.” As Dorothy Cavendish bowed her head in a fresh paroxysm of grief, the top of her smart, embroidered hat was plainly visible. From its crown a heavily chased silver hat- pin gleamed and scintillated in the light. And behind it on the stiff satin crown an empty hatpin hole yawned accusingly. CHAPTER XI, THE NEXT OF KIN. HE woman’s weapon again! For a certainty it was relentlessly pointing its glistening finger at the women caught in the whirlpool of tragedy. The owner of the inescapable clew entered the pattern of the sinister affair. Beyond all doubt, the remaining pin in Dorothy Caven- dish’s hat was a duplicate of the one gripped in the hand of the dead man when Dr. Bainbridge extracted it. Quite unexpectedly Nancy stepped to the door. She did not go out, nor even cross the threshold. She merely held the door ajar and peered out. Before taking the body of the slain man to his office Dr. Bainbridge had been ex- ceedingly careful in his preservation of every possible detail concerning it. The Conmicbooks (©