Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

* . a+. ¢ 7 owt ye ree oe L ok es a - 4 +h sl Se 43 ‘ Ae a ~ 4 a 4 ae . ae ‘ cept take the sewer,” he snappe® After making Joie as comfortable as POS circumstances, they once this occasion there was one thing in their favor—they were sure of their direc- tion. It was toward the west and away from the river. They soon reached the point where Bruce had discovered. the stale footprints of the person who had walked in the direction they were now pursuing. Here they found new tracks—the plain trail made by Eddie Car- bon and his companions. Especially notice- able was the broad tread of the negress. Following this plainly defined path, they traversed a distance equal to the length of a city block. Here it suddenly stopped. There was a jumbled mass of footprints, beyond which the soft mud was trackless. There was ~ at the left side of the passage. Into this a door had been roughly fitted. It might have withstood the combined efforts of a dozen men when first placed there, but now it age. In fact, aS Bruce of rotting shreds crum- was crumbling with touched it, a handful bled to powder. « After all, you can’t help but admire the negto’s cleverness,” said Bruce. «Jp what respect?” qu tioned Bailey. “ Why, he was moving tion when I stopped him going the other way.” “By George, you you make of it?” are right! “ Simply this—there are two entrances to Either one was at the command of the gambling fraternity at the Cracker Pot for crooked games. One east toward the river, this passageway. time they were using the and this one west of their point of entry.” “T follow you. other way out.” “J think so. The negro found them and await his chance.” Well—he got it,” said Bailey. chirk up; we are about to rope him.” moo also a jagged hole in the bricks in the right direc- and insisted upon What do Somewhere beyond the pile of bricks we climbed over there is an- had no special plans beyond locking the door behind him. He was ready to accept conditions as he “ He certainly did,” replied Bruce. “ But jt >. - Pires rat ae 3 “Fs a » “ rst of c Why this burst of comnce®l ae ee colored dame he has * that isn’t built for speed. besiae ounce of energy went into made. On your guard personal opinion is that they are 0 Bracing their shoulders against the and the shattered sections ¢ opped to t feet almost without a sound. ~~ aaa “ That’s good,” said Bruce. “ The ik noise we make the better.” § Then they stepped through the open! They were in the cellar or subcell: r of x abandoned warehouse. The flagstone | ment was grooved and rutted by t e hooped chimes of many a ancient cask, a! the faint odor of leaf tobacco still linget . - ~ SS “es wee @ ¥ ,0\ees ‘ awe thi op Be er nh tA tee ae . Pes ie > F on the vitiated alr. A forestlike array post was circled by Bruce or his ¢ ompan after which all the dark corners were ¢ fully explored. BGS < They are not down here; T am s of that,” said Bruce. “So am I. What comes next?” «“ The stairs,” replied Bruce, in cating dusty flight leading to the floor above Glancing upward, Bruce saw that t was no door to negotiate at the hea the steps. In all probability it hi d ic since disappeared. = As they started to climb Bailey touch Bruce’s arm. “ Put out your light,” ae _- a ~ => whispered. en Bruce saw the wisdom of the s ugges and complied with ‘¢ Easy now—listen!” As both men strained to catch est sound that would offer a clew to they might encounter the scraping sf was distinctly heard, as if sc one opened it with extreme cau mounting several more steps 3% placed his hand on: Bruce’s a m anc ed the cautionary “Listen!” oa i?” ee . a Se : Ss , Fe ries. ee 2 > the. of silence. “ What is “Deep breathing.” = “‘comicbooks.com J gme —_ - a ? - «re il Le a -