Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

. cme E ts. a > > el “a - Ct. gt . - he | fie - te ‘e. ’ re i] a , * ; 5 te BS | « Why not?” - |. As they came under the glare of & y se ann aa electric light Vie recognized them. « Be-because it waS FAN TT” oer rrke detectives!” sbe exclaimed. where I had purchased i ees Tyst a moment, please » said the taller e Oh, is that so? ; Bsc of 3 revealing his badge. "that, if you don’t mind?” — Bee. demanded Welling: «Mime. Selma’s,” said Vie in ; voice. The detective turned and fi ter ee 2 ; bP] « We want an explanation, returned the ad fas « This lady, Mrs. Steele, eyes on Mrs. Wellington. “ Where @ plainclothes man. This day to report the loss of a buy that hat, madam?” called us in to- ae “] bought it at Mme. 9¢ ma’s, a «Yt doesn’t matter, like to know whose business it 1s bw own! : « Pye adjusted the matter satisfactorily.” “ Qh, you have?” This rather sarcasti- _ «Well, if you will tell us how, we will be able to make out our reports accord- ingly. You claimed the hat was stolen. You gave us 4 minute description of it. And now, unless my eyes are no good, the has the stolen hat on her » interrupted Vie. | Ot « What did you pay for it?” pursuet officer of the law. Soa «“ That’s none of your—” a “Tut, tut,” interrupted Mr. Welling “ There’s no need getting bitter over | little misunderstanding. My wile — twenty dollars for the hat. Theres “ee lady in the car head.” secret about it.” ie « What?” Like a flash the detective turned ¢ but burst with as- Vie. a Mrs. Wellington all tonished indignation. The explosion left her too breathless to continue immediately. stolen? Answer me! = But her husband had his wind. Removing ing false information to an officer is a sev his cigar, he exclaimed: “ Where do you one.” pe get that stuff? What’s the matter with “‘ Yes, it looks very much like the ou fellows, anyway?” hat,” she was forced to admit. « But, ap . vs “ Nothing the matter with us,” answered course—” ee “ But there’s some- “And you said the hat you lest was Isn't this the same hat you said = 7 the detective shortly. thing the matter with this neighborhood. worth a hundred, perhaps hundred ¢ Two thefts on this same street have been twenty-five dollars. Did you or did vou n reported to-day. Mrs. Jellico claimed she give a false valuation, madam?” lost her silverware, but it has since been “ Don’t you answer him,” exe aim learned that her husband teok it out to be Wellington. “ If he persists in asking foc replated. Then a hat was taken from Mrs. ish questions, he can do so through my Jaw Steele’s apartment, so we decided to hang ye = ete around. Now the hat shows up on some one “J don’t think you have any t ht to who is talking quite sociably with the one brow-beat my wife,” said Oliver ho who claims she lost it—” “Tm not brow-beating ar 50 « Tt was a mistake,” struck in Vie. “My turned the detective. “Tm only 1 hat wasn’t stolen at all. I just thought it get the dope straight for my report. | was.” She tried to use her best smile, but that woman sitting in the car sa $s it wasn’t very effective so far as the law was only twenty dollars for that art 2 comecrned. “ Samuel!” screamed Mrs W. Wasn't stolen, eh?” repeated the detec- “ Will you sit there and listen to. tive suspiciously. ‘ Well, then, in that case mon policeman without a nif suppose you go in and bring it out just to back insult me? If there ae clear up something that’s in my mind.” around I’d have him atr ae Vie guiped. She wondered why some one home, James and if this ae did not come to her aid. “I can’t bring any more infortnadl le nana it out,” she floundered. with our lawyers.” 7 chine