The Argosy, March 1907 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

-~ more subtle and secret methods. heard of ‘again. _—”—=s THE PLACE, THE TIME, AND. THE MAN. * ized for just this sort of work. A sur- vival of the notorious ‘Mollie Ma- guires’ which once terrorized that sec- tion, it works according to infinitely When the ‘ Mollie Maguires’ wanted to put a man out of the way they sent him no- tices warning him of his end, and then, when opportunity offered, boldly shot or knifed their victims, trusting to the fear which their exploits inspired to keep them from answering for their crimes. Their leaders were well known, and made no secret of their affiliation with the ‘ Mollies’; they owed their long im- munity from punishment simply to the difficulty of getting witnesses to testify against them. “The new organization of which I am telling you follows, however, no such crude system. Its members are linked in an oath-bound band, and the direst penalties would fall upon any one of them who should even hint that such a fraternity existed.” “How, then, did you ever learn of it?”’ broke in George curiously. “ Some- body must have told you.” “Never mind that,’’ returned the old man grimly. ‘Suffice it to say that l do know, and that any order that | give will be instantly heeded. “No warnings are sent,’ he contin- ued, resuming his narrative tone; “ the pistol and the knife are eschewed ex- cept in cases of absolute necessity. The victim is simply found dead, either as the result of accident or suicide, or else unaccountably disappears, never to be We leave no clues or traces.by which even the cleverest of detectives could lay responsibility to our doors.” “We?” hoarsely ejaculated George, believing his father to have made a slip of the tongue. ‘“ Then you, too, are a member of this fearsome gang?” He glanced quickly about him, almost as though expecting to find an assassin lurking at his elbow. ‘Are you not afraid to have told me this,”” he added, ‘‘ when, as you say, the inflicted. for be- direst penalties are trayal?”. A glint of amusement came into the deep-set, heavy-browed eyes bent upon him. 7 - other’s : nw wt, oO “No,” ciswaeed the old man. oe : = “for you are now one of us. As supreme head of the society, I have added you to our membership. in the oath, passwords, recognition later.” “I?” George recoiled, trembling and shaking. ‘No, no,” . hurriedly. “I couldn’t think of it. I am not at all the sort of chap for anything of the sort. I would be sure to bungle and make a mess. Please, father———” “There is no other way,” the financier sternly. our secret, you must either join us or ” He gave a significant gesture which left no doubt of his dread mean- ing. “ We have but one motto, the same I repeated to you a bit ago, ‘ Dead men tell no tales!’ and should you hold out, even I could not shield you from the consequences. ‘ However,” the solemnity of his tone verging into a sort of cynical contempt, ‘you need not be afraid that I shall call upon you for any active service. The only use I shall make of you is to act as an intermediary between me and the men. The methods of: com- munication I have hitherto employed are becoming slightly unsafe, and I have hit upon this plan as the one least likely to arouse suspicion. ‘“ By giving you some sort of position at the mines—oh, you'll not be called upon to do any work,” in answer to the quick look of alarm—“ your coming and going would never excite suspicion, and a reliable chain would be established for the transmission of my orders. Under these conditions, do you agree to join the society?” | “ Oh, I suppose so,” dejectedly. “In fact, there doesn’t seem any other course open to me. But I must say, father,” with sulky resentment, “I think you have taken a very unfair advantage of me. Had I imagined for one moment that this was why you wanted to see me to-night, I should shave taken precious good care to remain at my club.” interrupted “ Being aware of But old Sylvester paid small heed to his son’s grumblings. “You didn’t, however,’ he rejoined, ‘“‘and consequently, I shall expect you to leave for the Spring Creek country bP] the first thing to-morrow morning. Ar- IT will instruct you and means of. — comic 900 “S-€OM