Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

A STRANGER IN TOWN. ment, he experienced the feeling that he had been led on to his undoing, played with, trapped. Marvin thought he had trapped him. He thought that his mention of the possibility of Blumefeldt’s mistaking the genuine bill for a counterfeit and pass- ing it to him, showed guilty knowledge on his part. The thing left him practically breathless, actually aghast. He was like one lost in a morass. The more he sought to extricate himself from the mire of sus- picion, the deeper he seemingly floundered into the bog. He glanced at Miss Elton with dumbly appealing eyes. And Portia did not fail him. ‘“ Don’t you think, Mr. Marvin, that your implying that Mr. Harmon’s suggestion that Blumefeldt had such a bill in his possession after the man actually gave it to him, shows any ulterior knowledge on his part, is a bit far fetched?” she inquired. Marvin’s answer came promptly. ‘ The point is that Blumefeldt gave him the bill. | He would have been more apt to do so if he knew him.” “ But—I thought you didn’t believe it was given to him at all—that you thought his apparent attempt to rid himself of it was a subterfuge?” Miss Elton glanced at Captain Salles. Marvin nodded. ‘“ That was Captain Salles’s suggestion. Under the circum- stances, however, we are compelled to fall back on theory to some extent. It is even possible that Blumefeldt actually gave it to him because, as he pointed out, he had no time in which to satisfy himself of its nature—and that the fact was still undeter- mined when Jenkins ran him down.” Miss Elton set her lips. “If we are to resort to theories,” she rejoined, “‘ my theory of this whole affair is that Mr. Harmon has told you the literal truth.” Her words had a surprising effect on Ed- die. A moment before, he had felt harried by this new angle in the affair—acutely de- pressed. All afternoon he had been a veri- table football of fate, until he had come to the point where he didn’t know who or what was going to kick him next. But at this fresh evidence of her unshaken confidence in him, his faltering spirit stiffened. She was a loyal little advocate and she wasn’t 4A 849 shaken one little bit by these two self-supe- rior men. Suddenly he let out a sneering laugh that was like a snarl of rage. “They don’t want to accept that theory, Miss Elton, because it would knock the spots out of theirs.” And, as Mildred half opened her lips to check him, he started up and stood, feet a little apart, hands thrust into the pockets of his coat. ‘ As a matter of fact, Marvin, vou'd a lot rather believe I knew Blume- feldt than not, wouldn’t you? Come on— put the cards on the table.” Marvin viewed him coldly. “ Why, yes,” he said without the least hesitation. ‘“ As a matter of fact, I would.” ‘* You'd rather think I wasn’t as innocent as I claim?” “Exactly. You appreciate the position, Harmon.” ‘* Because—you think if I was guilty, I'd get you in touch with Blumefeldt?” ‘Your deduction is extremely lucid.” ‘‘ Then ’’—Eddie took a chest filling in- halation. It was useless to talk any longer with such men. It was useless to urge his innocence. They wanted him to be guilty— and no matter what he said, no matter how clearly he pointed out his connection in the matter, the real, inward meaning, the soul, as it were, of his words was bent. “‘ Then,” he repeated, ‘“ here’s what I’m go- ing to do. I’m going back to my hotel and go about my business. And you go as far as you like and—” He paused again and took his hands out of his pockets and rested them on his hips. He leaned a little bit forward and hurled his defiance at Marvin: “ You hang anything on me if you can.” “Mr. Harmon! Mr. Harmon—please!” Miss Elton sprang from her seat. She took Eddie by the arm. “Don’t mind him, Mr. Marvin,” she begged. ‘“ He’s only a boy—and he’s had enough done to him this afternoon to drive any one to distraction. Come, Mr. Har- mon ”—she tugged gently at his arm—‘ I want vou to take me home.” ‘“* All right,” said Eddie thickly. He glanced down and encountered her troubled expression. ‘‘ Only ”—he turned again to Marvin—“ I’ve put myself on record and I guess you know where I stand.” COMIC oOo! S (©