Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

BLACK OR BLUE. 567 “You come with me!” he cried. “ You wanted to see me face trouble. Come with me!” Still protesting, Moon followed him to the end of the platform, where two armed men awaited Bud Halliday with horses. VII. SIncE Conway had made public his threat, the offices of the Consolidated Mining Company at Clay City had been inclosed in a cage of steel. As a result the company which gathered there the night when that pay roll arrived assumed the gro- tesque appearance of so many animals caged in some prodigious zoo. When Fenton entered the building and stood in the tiny antechamber outside the imprisoning cage, he looked upon the gath- ering within much as the visitor to a monkey house might gaze upon the simian occupants behind the bars; and in the dim light his expression possessed something of the sardonic amusement with which man- kind has ever regarded the monkey’s antics. It was only when his eyes alighted upon Marion Grover that something of human- ity’s interest in man relieved his gaze. She was the center of a moving group of men. Like a queen she sat at the desk of the superintendent, and the men moved about her as the drones encircle the center of the hive. They were talking, talking, and she replied to them seldom, holding them verbally at arms’ length. “Tf this is the money we are expecting, let us give you a proper receipt for it, and have the matter done with,” said Hedge, the superintendent. He addressed Paley Grover, who, still with his gun unhampered and the saddle- bag clutched tightly in his hand, stood at ease behind his daughter’s chair. Mason and the men who had long since arrived with him by motor lounged about the room, i!l at ease, seldom quiet. Marion answered for her father. ‘ Bud Halliday will be here to attend to that.”” She spoke quietly, but her father seemed to acquiesce in his calm, good- humored silence. | ‘Is that he?’? Mason, nearer the gate which communicated with the tiny ante- chamber in which Fenton stood, was quick to discern the man’s figure, dim in the at- tenuated light which spread through the cage irom the kerosene lamp on the desk. Fenton alone noticed the quick, glad start with which Marion turned to peer in his direction. He smiled. “It’s Fenton,” he announced softly. It was the affected, unnatural voice with which he had addressed Paley Grover in the afternoon. Mason grunted disgust. he said. ‘““What you want?” Hedge snapped out his question without courtesy. “Since youw’re making use of my little scheme I thought I’d drop in and see how it’s working,” smiled Fenton coolly. “What scheme?” Grover instantly chal- lenged the supercilious camaraderie of Fen- ton’s tone. “Why, his scheme for the delivery of the money,” Marion’s clear voice rang out in the caged room like a bell. “It was he planned our little trick of triple delivery, you know.” Paley Grover turned upon her with drawn brows. ‘YT thought it was your idea,” he growled. “No, his!” she cried. ‘‘ Let Mr. Fenton in, please, Mr. Hedge.” Hedge bridled at the command, for it was nothing less; but, emulating more than one man whom Marion Grover had dealt with, he obeyed it. Fenton entered the cage with a charming air of friendliness—of confidence in his re- ception. ‘ Where’s Stockbridge?” he asked lightly. ‘* Attendin’ to business,” growled Grover. For an instant Fenton appeared discon- certed. ‘And Halliday?” he added. Hedge grinned. ‘“‘ He’s in conference,” he said. Again it was Marion who put the hand- some Easterner at ease. “It’s Fenton,” ‘“There’s no need for Mr. Stockbridge any longer,” she smiled. ‘‘ Thanks to you, Mr. Fenton, there’s no need for any of us now. The pay roll is safe in Clay City!” cCoOmiclbooks.c© inn