The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

308 camp at once, but I delayed to pick up Gonzales’ team and buckboard, which I had left at a Phoenix corral. I am now coing to Cache d’Oro, and have hopes that I shall be successful in capturing my man. With the assistance of Pablo vou will have to look after things here until I close up this business.” “What are you going to do with my brother? ” she asked listlesslv. “ Nothing, just at present.” “ Nothing?” she repeated. “ Nothing, but to make sure he does not escape if he is still in the mine. When I am through at Cache d’Oro I shall see what is to be done.” “You did not let Teresa tell you everything.” “T allowed her to tell me everything it was necessary for me to know.” “She came here with her seeret con- cerning Tom,” pursued Amy; “I suc- ceeded in getting her to tell me what it was, and then tried to leave the office, so to the mine, and warn Tom to leave.” “So I thought,’ he answered care- lessly. “You arrived most opportuncly.” “It would seem so. Good-by for the present.” He started toward the door. His collected, almost apathetic, de- meanor jarred upon her. Rising beside the desk, she turned her cold, expres- sionless face toward him. “Will you tell me why you are ma- king a police officer out of yourself? ” she asked. “ Yes, I will tell you,” he answered; “the truth might as well be known now as at any other time. It is strange to me that your keen mind has not penetrated the makeshift before. I am the detective who was to come here and look for the bullion thieves.” “You? ” How foreign the very idea was to her might have been inferred from that one word and the way she uttered it. Instinctively she drew back, a look of loathing on her face. “Yes, Miss Travis. I have done everything to inform vou of the fact; everything, that 1s, except to tell you in so many words. I know a little about cyanide work, even as a success- ful detective must know a little about C; OUgle THE ARGOSY. a great many things which may some time come within the scope of his duty. “IT was hired by the Cyanide .Com- pany to come here, assume control as manager, and pursue my investigations unknown to any one at the works. It has been hard for me to remain true to my trust, but in the main I think I have succeeded.” “Why did you misrepresent yourself to me and persuade me to stay here?” she demanded. “T don’t think, Miss Travis, that I have made any misrepresentations.” “Why did you persuade me to re- main here? ” “.Because the company at first in- sisted that I should arrest you and keep you in custody pending my investiga- tions.” She swayed and leaned back against the wall for support. ‘* Before I left Denver,” he went on, “I was able to have my instructions, in that one particular, changed so I was left to act at my own discretion, but upon my own responsibility. That is why I persuaded you to stay. In cap- turing the real thieves I shall, at the same time, vindicate you.” “YT will not stay here another hour,” she said, looking dazedly ‘about her. “If I cannot get some one to take me from this hateful place, I can walk— and I will.” She tottered back to her desk and leaned weakly against it, her gaze everywhere but on the man at the door. “T know you too well, Miss Travis,” said Whipple in a low tone. “ Your devotion to your brother will keep you here as long as he is in the mine. And believe me, for the time being the old mine is his safest refuge.” He drew a step nearer. “TI repeat what I have told you be- fore,’ he went on; “it will be in my power to help you ” Her blue eyes were on him, gleaming like live coals. ‘“ Do not speak another word to me! ” she eried. “Go! I despise you from the depths of my soul!” ile stood before her for a moment, eying her steadily; then he bowed mutely, whirled on his heel and passed out of the office. then, GORMGIOO CO