Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

1 i AA i AN Miss Dorothy was privately setting in mo- tion such actions?” | “TY do—most extraordinary. 1 told Dorothy so. But she paid no attention to me. I don’t understand it at all—or Doro- -thy’s connection with such a woman.” “This is all for the present,” said Nancy. “I regret to say that you must remain here under surveillance for a while.” Quietly she stepped to the table, rolled up the documents, placed them in a deep desk drawer, turned the key in the lock. This she put in her little leather case. “Mr. Shoreham,” asked Nancy sudden- ly, “did you ee Miss Greenwood here?”’ : z= Certainly not.” “You did not know that she was waiting in Mr. Kent’s reception room while you were closeted with him here?” - Shoreham’s jaw dropped. The act showed startled surprise. ‘‘ I—I did not. Maybe she was bringing a message from Dorothy.” Ignoring this suggestion, Nancy inquired: “Did Mr. Kent expect Miss Greenwood?” “Of course not. man. He wouldn’t keep a lady waiting like that out in his reception room, provided she had had any appointment with him. It’s not like Kent to make two appointments unless they are about the same thing.” ‘“Suppose they were about the same thing?” “* Impossible. Dorothy’s business, Kent would have known it, and there would be no reason to keep her waiting.” ““ That’s so,” acceded Nancy. “ There fore, you will not be surprised to learn who iS detained in the next private office.” She stepped to the connecting door and opened it. “‘ Jenkins,’’ she commissioned, “you are to keep this door open until I instruct you further. You will remain in charge of these two people.” Nancy then left the offices abruptly. From the surprising developments of the last few moments a strong suspicion had been shaping itself in her mind. She ig- _nored the rooms of Mlle. Mignonne. She was thoroughly acquainted with what they overuy held. So ae SS into = of- - MARKED DOWN, Mr. Kent is a gentle- For had she come here on fices adjoining those she had just left, the = offices of the dead man’s attorneys, Messrs. Cunningham and Winters. The first door opened into Mr. Wi hice Ss private office. A hasty glance about oe = it to be empty, Directly behind this office was that of Mr. Cunningham labeled Pri- Here, too, no further surprising figure vate. came forth to view. She walked through the door connecting Mr. Cunningham’s of- fice with the long reception room Sonne both offices and entered from them as welt: as by a single door on the corridor. plain, substantially furnished room revealed no hiding guest. SS Loring stood outside. “Well, Miss Dayland,” he said in a tae voice, “ the people are getting pretty hungry = : here-—anad out of sorts, too. Aren’t you go- — ing to wind up this investigation of YOUTS< pretty soon?’ *“T cannot say now, ” the girl confessed frankly. This open admission of hers camel = a shadow of scorn to fall across the face of the man from headquarters. In his code of. = conduct no one ever admits that he does not know. The less he knows, the more he pretends. He pigeonholed the girl investi- — gator as an ingenuous imbecile whose luck — in her spectacular cases had eeee the chief’s judgment. “You might, Mr. Loring, send one a =. cer with orders for food from any of the = people on the settles here. There is a quick — lunch restaurant in the next block. They — may have whatever they want t to eat that — is in reason and judgement.” Anger flamed across Loring’ ¢ tae s Oh, they’ve got to wait if the police say so. — Some of them are commuters. They are used to delays. It won’t hurt them.” “No, but it is not necessary that they £0 without food if they desire it.” Without another word Nancy stepped into the private office of Mr. Case. These — law offices were in reverse duplicate of those — she had just left. She gave a cursory glance _ about, then turned the knob and sepeet into the waiting room. A slight, richly dressed girl oot up trembling as the door opened, - She had- = dark, delicate 2 unusually lovely i in con- = comicbook: “= ———