Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? ‘“ The man is here! The mah who found the body!” The shrill tones ceased in a gurglie as though a hand had been laid suddenly over her lips and a low mutter replied to her, in which the only distinct words that came to McCarty’s ears were “ confounded little foal!” Some question evidently followed, to which she replied in a sibilant whisper, and then a tall, lanky man with hair thin- ming at the temples and eager, harassed, brown eyes, strode into the room. “What do you want?” he demanded. “What are you doing here?”’ “T’ve been sent by the inspector in charge of the investigation mto Eugene ‘Creveling’s death, sir,” responded Mc- Carty, rising. “Well, what about it?” the other asked truculently. ‘“‘ We knew him, of course; but why have you come to us?” “To find out if you could help us get at any reason for his suicide,” McCarty ex- plained, ignoring the antagonism in Ford’s manner. ‘ Mr. George Alexander says you were a friend of Mr. Creveling’s, and Mrs. Ford told me just now that you and him have put through some deals together; you might know if anything had been preying on the mind of him.” “Suicide, eh?” Ford’s tane was cooler, as though he had in a measure regained composure. ‘“ How the devil should I know his affairs if his own family “don’t? Alexander: is a doddering ass, and as for my wife, she knows nothing about my busi- ness; she probably heard some propositions discussed in a general way and jumped to conclusions. You’ve got no right to come here and question her or me either! We've nothing to say, and that’s the end of it!” “You saw Creveling yesterday,” Mc- Carty persisted. ‘* How in hell do you know that!” Ford exploded suddenly, and turned upon his wife who stood shrinkingly in the doorway. “More of your infernal chatter, eh? Will you never learn to keep your mouth shut!”’ “You had a business conference with him,’”’ McCarty interposed firmly. ‘‘ What was the nature of that business, Mr. Ford? Why should ‘your wife keep quiet about it?”’ _ Crevelings! 117 “ Because it was a confidential matter!” the other retorted savagely. ‘‘ A proposi- tion between us two alone, and it had noth- ing to do with whatever happened last night; we didn’t come to any decision, any- way. I’m sorry Creveling’s dead, of course, but if he killed himself he probably knew what he was about. I don’t, and you’ve got a devil of a nerve to come here and _try to cross-examine my wife merely because we happened to be acquainted with the Go back to your inspector, ‘or the police commissioner himself, if you like, and say that if we are annoyed any further or dragged into this there will be trouble. I’ve got influence in this town!” The man’s hands worked nervously, and his bloodshot eyes glared at McCarty as the latter nodded. ' “Very well, sir. I came to you quiet like, as I’ve been to most of Mr. Crevel- ing’s other close friends to save them the trouble and publicity of being subpoenaed, if it comes to that. You'll appreciate the fact that we’ve got to establish a motive for suicide or there may be a lot more un- pleasant notoriety for all concerneéd.” “We are not concerned, and I refuse to — discuss the matter further, sir! We know nething of Creveling’s private affairs and no motive for his suicide.” Ford gestured toward the door. “ Goed afternoan!” With a slight bow to Mrs. Ford, who stepped aside as though in a daze to let him pass, McCarty left the room, and as he shot downward in the elevator the scene which had just occurred impressed itself upon him with a new and two-fold sugges- tion. of mystery. Ford was evidently be- side himself, on the brink of desperation; why? His cry of bemg “done for,” to- gether with Mrs. Ford’s warning that the man who had found “the body” was there, seemed to hold an unmistakable and damning significance, yet his subsequent manner was a puzzle. It was almost as though some other and quite irrelevant is- sue confronted him, something beside which the manner of Creveling’s death was of small moment. His concern appeared chiefly to get McCarty out of the way, heedless of the impression he created. The . look upon his wife’s face as McCarty COUMIUC AOO!K Colin