The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

146 “ Oh, we flew away from fire with the Anti-Fire-Fly!” I said. Such was the end of the Anti-Fire- ly. Attired in such of our own raiment as had survived the cinder pile and the hose, and in other bits of clothing con- tributed by kindly factory workmen, we took the next boat for New York, and a cab thereafter. We reached home in time to see the ladies mounting the Hawkins’ steps, presumably to investigate the reason for our prolonged inspection. For a few moments they seemed quite incapable of speech. Mrs. Haw- THE ARGOSY. kins was the first to regain the use of her tongue. “ Herbert,” she said in an ominously calm tone, “ what was it this time? ” Hawkins smiled foolishly. “It was the Hawkins Anti-Fire-Fly,” I said spitefully. “ Fly away from fire with the Anti-lire-Fly, you know. Tell your wife about it, Hawkins.” Then Mrs. Hawkins addressed her husband and said—but let that pass. We have all the essential facts of the case as it 1s. Moreover, a successful author told me last week that unhappy endings are in the worst possible taste Just now. DEALT IN THE DARK.’ BY FRANCIS Z. STONE. A story of the secret that lay about Island Diablo, and of the direful happenings to those who strove to lift the veil. : SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. JACK FIELDING undertakes to head an expedition to Island Diablo in the Gulf of California. Several persons have mysteriously disappeared in the effort to explore this spot, among them Fred Wessel, a friend of Fielding. And Professor Fanshaw, an archmologist, who was at the bottom of having the place brought into publicity, has been murdered in his home in an Eastern city. Fielding, an ex Rough Rider, has an interview with the professor's daughter Ethel, and she charges him not to reveal to any one the nature of his errand. Deeply impressed by her warning, Fielding starta for San Francisco, where he hears a queer story about a drunken man who has come to the Pilot with a fanciful tale about Diablo Island. His name is Peedalue, and a fellow, representing himself to be his brother, has had him placed in the lunatic asylum. Fielding finds out that the brother business is a myth, and is certain that Peedalue has been deprived of his senses to keep him from telling something he knows. Fielding 18 sure of one other thing too—that he himself is being followed. He tells this to his cousin, Lem Plasted, multimillionaire and proprietor of the Daily Telegram, the San Francisco paper that is backing the new Diablo expedition. He is overheard, and later is kidnapped by the enemy, at whose back, it seems, is a man named Spurzheim. Heescapes by almost a miracle from a horrible asylum called the House of Lazarus, only to hear that Ethel Fanshaw, who has come to San Francisco, has fallen into the hands of this same Spurzheim. The description furnished by the hotel employees answered to that of Spurzheim and Amelia Hoff. Spurzheim’s motive was not far to seek. He had partly betrayed himselt CHAPTER XX. A BLOW AIMED. IELDING’S true. “announcement was Investigation showed that a man and a woman called at the Ransome early that morning, and after despatching a message to Miss Fanshaw, were received by her. Half an hour later she settled her bill and went away with the parr. -to Miss Fanshaw during his interview with her in New York. His connection with the House of Lazarus could no longer be concealed. Fielding’s cousin would investigate the manner in which Spurzheim supposed the Rough Rider to have met his fate. *This story began in the August issue of THE ARGOSY. The four back numbers will be mailed to any address on receipt of 40 cents. GORMIGOOO SS (SO in