Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

A STRANGER IN TOWN. up what he lost on our flivver three years ago? You know it was. Well, then, ain’t it time we was lookin’ out a little bit for ourselves?” “Sure,” said Murgson, drawing a ker- chief and wiping his sweat-beaded face. “We've protected him as long as we can. We took our medicine an’ kept our mouths shut, an’—it’s his fault we find ourselves in th’ shape we stand at present. It was his notion to rush that hundred thou’ across with Blumefeldt. Now let him make good if he can.” ‘“And now you're talkin’ sense,” Blume- feldt declared, tossing away his cigarette. “« So—you go get him, Murgson. You can take Joe’s cab an’—” Murgson stared. ‘‘ What do you know about jim?” he said, in what was evident- ly fresh suspicion. Blumefeldt smiled. ‘ Well—say—how do you suppose I found you to-night? D’ye think I wasn’t watchin’? I know a lot of things.” Murgson gulped. But he only nodded. Plainly he was suffering from an acute dis- comfort. And Irak and Welter were star- ing at Blumefeldt in none too confident a fashion. | Still—there was nothing else for it. They were going to do it. Eddie felt his nerves tighten. They were going to bring their backer here to deal with Blumefeldt direct since that was the only open course remain- ing. They were going to do that—and— he would see the man. He and Portia would see him—would be able to identify him later. Murgson was reaching for his hat, and— He paused. “I'll go get him,” he said slowly, and turned his eyes toward the bed, toward Mildred Elton and Harmon, “ but we can’t bring him in here with them.” Blumefeldt nodded. Plainly he under- stood without any explanation. “ Say,” he said again, “ what’s the matter with you fellows? Didn’t it ever occur to you that you haven’t done a thing until you’ve done it? Wasn’t that what let you out of clink this afternoon? They was sure you meant to do it, wasn’t they—but you hadn’t. Well, you ain’t defaced government paper, have you, till th’ thing’s accomplished? 287 What could these two youngsters swear to outside th’ fact that he come down here this evenin’ an’ closed a deal with me for bleachin’ India ink? - What’s that but a commercial process? I ain’t supposed to know whether he’s going to let you use it for illegal purposes or to wash out Japanese prints.” He was clever—oh, yes, Blumefeldt was clever. Eddie saw what he meant. He saw it and glanced at Mildred, and discov- ered a most peculiar expression in her eyes. Only he couldn’t read it, and he felt his own spirits sink. Of course Blumefeldt’s course was peculiar—the man’s sang froid was immense. But what he said was per- fectly true. Even if he sat here and saw the deal concluded, an initial payment made, the formula handed over, he couldn’t swear from his own knowledge that it had been anything more than the sale of a pro- cess for bleaching India ink. Of course there was what Murgson and Trak and Welter had said about the past. There were their remarks concerning the future. Those things showed intent. But, intent was not commission, and he couldn’t even swear the unknown man who was com- ing was the one who had been passing coun- terfeit bills while they were in jail, except as he had heard them declare it. And if he told that, they could deny it. It would be their words against his. His evidence wouldn’t rank as much more than hearsay after all. Was there ever such a mess be- fore—a situation that could develop sce many unexpected kinks? He noted Irak grinned in a crafty fashion. ‘And then he began to speak: “That’s all very fine on th’ face of it, Blumefeldt, but I reckon almost any jury would convict us if we got grabbed, just th’ same. They got our number—and they wouldn’t feel too much upset about puttin’ one on him.” “Then,” Blumefeldt said, “if you feel that way about it, and know th’ keeper of this joint, why don’t you fix it to slip ’em into another room?” For the first time in many minutes Murg- son grinned. “ Now youw’re talkin’ sense,” he rejoined. “I'll stay here an’ fix it. Lei Irak go get our man.” cCoOmiclool C©