The Argosy, March 1907 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

610 Twenty words it was on the unwind- ing tape; but the sequel to it would be told to-morrow in columns of descrip- tion and comment. “Spring Creek Railway reported to have at last effected connection with the Southeastern, assuring it through traffic to the East!” spelled out the clicking wheel. Old Burns reeled back from the ma- chine, his face livid, his eyes glassy. “It’s a lie!” he cried. “ The thing is impossible. Why, every big engineer in the country has reported against it!” ‘Perhaps Gardiner Davis accom- plished it before he disappeared?” sug- gested President Stonefield, who, equally nonplused and overcome, was standing at his side. Burns stamped his foot. ‘“ Nonsense,” he declared., “ Gardi- ner Davis is safely under the sod, and he left no plans. I am certain of that. No; it’s a lie, I tell you. A weak lie on. the part of these people to try to keep themselves afloat. ‘““Ah, but perhaps Davis is not dead,” persisted Stonefield speculatively, still clinging to his idea. ‘ Perhaps this dis- appearance of his has been merely a ruse to let him work out his schemes.” Burns whirled upon him in a fury of contempt. | “Be quiet, can’t you, and let me think!” he blazed out. “ Gardiner Davis is dead, and I know it! “How do I know it?” as Stonefield again started to interrupt. ‘ Because I ordered the job done, and I have been assured that it was accomplished. “You wouldn’t have soiled your lily fingers with such work, would you?” scornfully. ‘ No, the rest of you cow- ardly hounds have always left such measures to me; but I have never hesi- tated when I thought they were neces- -sary, and I did not in this case.” “You are mad!” gasped Stonefield, backing away from the other with a look of frozen horror. “You don’t know what you are saying! This trouble has unsettled your reason!” “Not a bit of it,” disclaimed Burns _testily. “I simply wanted you to un- derstand the lengths to which I will go to protect my interests. And I repeat it. I had Gardiner Davis put out of the THE ARGOSY. way. It can’t be proved against me, and if you or anybody else were to charge me with it I should deny it; but it is true, just the same. “What's the matter with you, man? You’re not going squeamish over a little thing like that, are you?” for Stonefield had sunk into a chair and was covering his eyes with his hand. Burns started to lay a hand upon his shoulder, but the other recoiled from his touch as from that of a venomous ser- pent. ‘Sylvester Burns,” he said thickly, as he struggled to his feet, “ you and [I have been friends and business associates for nearly forty years. I have done many things at your bidding of which I am heartily ashamed; but still I have stuck by you. What you have just told me, however, ends everything between us. f never want to see you or hear your voice again.” And with one final look of disgust and repulsion, he turned toward the door. “What!” cried his evil genius, thun- derstruck at such a show of independ- ence, “ you would desert me, Stonefield ; and at such a time? Ah,” with a mali- cious snarl, “I see what is the trouble. You think I am beaten, and, like the rat you are, you would leave a sinking ship. Well, -I’m not beaten,” banging down upon his desk with his big hairy fist. ‘Phese hes and rumors do not disturb me. By to-morrow I shall be greater and more powerful than I ever was. ‘“And I promise you now, Stonefield,” with vicious rancor, “that you will -be the first one I shall ruin and degrade. I shall pinch you between my finger and thumb like a weasel until you squeal for mercy!” “TI believe you,” assented Stonefield sadly. ‘1 believe, from what you tell me, that this report is merely a ruse to gain time; and that, as you say, you will be in a position to-morrow to crush me. But even with that certainty ahead of me I cannot consent to ally myself longer with a murderer!” He took his departure, and-left alone, old Burns paced furiously up and down the floor. “The dog!” he hissed between his teeth. “It’s because he believes this fool report that he is shaking me. The ) Gomichboo ‘S.com a ge” ee