The Argosy, March 1907 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

“And if you should get into serious trouble, Radford,” the other went on earnestly—“ I mean, if it should really come to a pinch—I’ll come down from the city and testify. Ill see my own lawyers first and coach up on such a line of evidence~ that you'll be turned loose as soon as I leave the chair.” He smiled slightly. ‘IT know you’re innocent of anything intentional here, and if that fool bunch of jays doesn’t acquit you I'll come down with the best legal talent in Chi- cago and see that it is accomplished. How about it? Is it worth while to pocket that gun ahd sneak, Radford?” He stood over the druggist and looked down earnestly. For the moment the gun dropped to Radford’s lap. _ And that moment was fatal! In the twinkling of an eye—so rap- idly, indeed, that the druggist barely noted it—the clenched right fist shot back of Catterson—sped forward again with the force and the speed of a pro- jectile—landed squarely between Rad- ford’s eyes. The revolver flew from his hands and exploded with a crash. The druggist himself, without a groan, rolled from his chair and went down in a heap upon the floor. CHAPTER X” FROM MORNING TO NOON. MorRNING again. Another gloriously bright and-cool morning, too, with sweet breezes from the farming country and a brilliant sun to gladden humanity. Radford opened his eyes—painfully. They met the bare brown boards of an unplastered, unlovely ceiling. Just where was he? How had he land- ed there? Why was everything in his head so sadly tangled? Events returned slowly, as he stared at a knot-hole above. Yes, he remembered Catterson now, and the suddenly raised fist and all the rest. The crook had worked a neat lit- tle game very successfully. He had thrown Radford off his guard complete- ly. He had come near enough to strike —and -he had ‘struck the mark uner- ringly. WHEN SUSPICION STRUCK HARD. At that unfortunate instant, most as- ‘suredly, Radford had been knocked far- | ther into unconsciousness than ever be- fore in his life!. But there were other memories, vague, uncertain things at best. The druggist seemed to recall, in the most nebulous way, being laid upon a bed. He seemed to remember seeing a physician and watching him mix a pow- der with water; he could not quite tell just what had been said, but he recalled mumbling something incoherent and hearing remarks about “ shock.” He thought, too, lowed the dose. But where was he now? Radford raised his aching head and looked about. At first, he appeared to be alone. in the bare room; then he caught sight of a small heap in the farther corner—the bell-boy, and sound asleep! That, at least, seemed to indicate that he had not yet left Dunn’s hospitable roof. Radford sat up and stretched. He was very achy and very sore, but beyond that he felt little discomfort. He felt himself over gingerly; nothing seemed to be missing. Indeed, on the contrary, his anatomy, between the eyes, seemed to have taken on quite an addition. The druggist groaned, and then sud- denly ceased to groan: The fighting spirit boiled up within him as it had not done before. This infernal scoundrel had fooled him twice now, once by craft and once by force. All right! Radford was still alive and in the ring, and the third meeting should be brought about. And then ! “ Boy!” he called sharply. The youngster shot to an upright posi- tion. “Gee!” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. “ Did—did you come to?” ‘“T’ve—come to!” Radford said grimly. ‘ Where’s Mr. Catterson?”’ “The guy you tried t’—kill?” The boy was on his feet and edging toward the door. “ The—what? ” ~The youngster was in the corridor now, and eying Radford with a dubi- ous expression. ‘I guess you better stay there,” he % Gomicbooks.co 685. that he had swal- : » <* Ven