Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

THREE DAYS OF IT. I got your message promptly. I went straight to your house, of course. I saw your precious butler—and collared him at sight. bP] “ Collared James?” ‘Sure thing. IJ knew him at once as Jimmy-the-Stiff; we’ve been wanting him for a year. Clever forger. How did you get him, Mr. Kent?” I took a deep breath. ‘“‘ Through a letter of recommendation from an old friend.” ‘TI thought so. Written by himself. He’s done it before. Well, sir, I got to your house just in time. He had most of your solid plate packed in his trunk. Say. Re- member me talking about Beau Kelly, the other day?” I nodded. “Well, sir, he’s aboard this vessel. Fol- lowed you for a purpose, probably. I have come for him, and believe me, it took some hustling to arrive in time.” Beau Kelly! Goodness knows I saw it all clear enough then. “Is he dressed,in a brown sweater, dark trousers, and an old cap?” I asked. ‘“ That’s the man.” ‘* What has he done?” “Been out of Sing Sing six months, and two weeks ago attempted another job—and failed, as usual.” , ‘Sort of hounding him, aren’t you?” Clancy shut his teeth. to get him, sir. You have seen him?” “Yes, Clancy. I saw him. He entered @ passenger’s room, but was discevered be- fore he could rob her. He ran out and in the fog escaped up the foremast.”’ “But he was caught?” The detective looked eager. “No,” I_replied, with a straight” face. ‘“ The captain will tell you that he dropped from the yard and into the sea. That was night before last.” “The devil!” exclaimed Clancy. “T’ve lost him!” ‘ Looks like it,’ I returned. “‘ Come with me to the captain’s room. He'll tell you.” By this time I had got a grip on myself and was thinking clearly. I introduced the detective to Durand and left them together while I hurried to Dare’s room. He opened the door with his old debonair | air. “My orders are Bal | ‘“‘CHarmed, doctor, I’m sure. Anything new?” | ‘Don’t fool with me any longer, man,” I replied. ‘‘I know you. You are Beau Kelly. There’s a New York detective just come aboard. He’s in the captain’s room. He came for you.” “Hell!” Instinctively the man’s hand went to his hip and his face turned hard. ‘You gave me away?” ‘“ Quite the contrary,” I returned, assum- ing his late careless manner and not being afraid of his pistol. “ Jimmy-the-Stiff gave you away. when he was arrested at my house. As for me, I have just told Clancy that you jumped into the sea night before last.” The man’s expression instantly changed. ‘ You—you stood by me!” ‘“‘ Well—it has that appearance. Some- how I’d feel like a murderer if I went back on you now.” } | “Sir,” he said, looking. squarely at me, ““ were all the world like you I would not be what I am.”” He dashed his hand across his eyes. “I know I am weak; I know I am a failure, but not in appreciation.” “You have too many,” I interrupted, “byt you haven’t too much time. Here, take this and make a new start.” And I shoved a bill into his hand. “ Kelly, you are bright enough to get fortune without a jimmy. Try it. Now obey orders. I will hold Clancy in my room, and the moment the steamer docks you get ashore. Hold your head high and take a train for the West. Keep out of trouble, and you may count on me as a friend. Good-by.” IT held out my hand. He grasped it, and as I turned and left the room I saw tears on his cheeks. As for me, I confess to feel- ing a trifle warm around the heart. : I kept my word about holding Clancy, and while I was sitting with him, sure that Kelly had. gone, Dr. Billy Savidge came bursting into the’ room in his headlong fashion. His greeting was most effusive. ‘“And you have had no trouble?” he finally asked. “None in the world,” I returned. “ It has been a rather profitable trip, on the whole, but I wouldn’t care for three days of rt-again.” COM G AOOLK (CO