Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

A STRANGER IN TOWN. up a situation. And he was absolutely com- posed. Eddie envied him his quickness, his composure and the sang froid with which at the end of his answer he smiled. That smile seemed to annoy Captain Salles, and he shot back quickly: ‘“That’s the question. Anyway Blume- feldt met him this afternoon—” ‘After he made his get-away?” the middle-sized man interrupted. Whereupon the large man turned his eyes toward the speaker and Salles smiled. “ Yes, after he left you folks in his room.” The middle-sized man opened his lips and closed them. He was like a gasping fish with his almost bloodless lips and his high-bridged, slightly aquiline nose. “Hold your jaw, Welter,” the large man growled. His face had darkened swiftly - and there was a tenseness to his lids. ‘“T don’t just get your play here, cap- tain,” he said, “ but I don’t know the man, on the level. What’s the trouble? Now that Carl’s slipped through your hands, won’t the old net hold your fish? You got hep to th’ fact that you ain’t got a chance to hang it on us this time? Is that why you're feelin’ fussed?” Salles scowled. A little flush of color came up and burned in his olive cheeks. It was clear that the taunt had scored him, just as it was clear that his announcement of the meeting between Eddie and Blume- feldt had affected the trio’s nerves. For a moment he glanced at Marvin, then: “ You’re a fly crook, Murgson,” he returned. “I'll hand it to you for playin’ ’em close to your chest, and——this time— you win. But you don’t need to teach this office its business. You’re at liberty to beat it as soon as you leave this room.” “ Then we'll be leavin’ now if there’s no objections.” Murgson rose. ‘“ Au revoir, cap—though I ain’t intendin’ that to mean many happy returns.” _ He walked to the door with his two com- panions, opened it and passed through it with them; was gone. Salles eyed that door in glowering fashion until it was cldsed, then turned his regard to Harmon. “ All right,” he said and thrust his fingers of one hand into the pocket of his vest. 845 ** Here’s that hundred dollar bill you tried to make out was phony. Get the rest of your stuff from the safe as you go out.” Go out! Murgson and Irak and Welter had gone already and Salles was telling him to go now and so far as Eddie knew, there had been no more arrests. Murgson and Irak and Welter were freeand—he was free, too, if he understood Salles’ words. They were even giving him back the hundred dollar bill and telling him to get his other belongings as he went out. Well—he would do what the others had done. He wouldn’t stand on the order of his going. He would get his things and go to his hotel and settle with his attorney and get a train. But first— He rose. He eyed the bill in Salles’ hand with almost a glance of repugnance. ‘“ That isn’t mine,” he said. “It isn’t ours either,” Salles retorted gruffly. “‘ Take it and get out.” Eddie took it. He didn't really want it, but he.was not inclined to argue. Miss Elton had risen, and she was smiling. She was waiting to go with him. The bill didn’t belong to him really, but neither did it be- long to the police. Presumably it belonged to Blumefeldt. He took it and folded it up and put it into his pocket. “This means that I’m at liberty, I take it,” he addressed Salles for what he sincere- ly hoped was the last time in his life. But it was Marvin who answered. “You’re at liberty to go to your hotel, Mr. Harmon, and do anything else you please, except that until this thing is cleared up a bit more, I wouldn’t leave town, I guess.” CHAPTER V. A DEFIANCE. IS fingers still crowding the folded bill inside_a pocket, Eddie stared or per- haps glared is a better word to de- scribe the expression he turned on the quiet man at the desk. They were turning him loose, but—they were not satisfied. They were letting him out, but—they were going to watch him. And they were going to watch Murgson and Trak and Welter. They couldn’t hold them, comniiclsoo! ©