Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

300 * ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. . street was alive with shap-keepers and deni- “Pll never believe it of Terry!” he de- zens of the modest flats on either side of clared in a loud, mdignant tone. “ He's the way, who freed from the routine of not the lad to go back on his friends and - work were thronging out for a breath of what’s the good of being a citizen and hav- the balmy spring air. Two figures, one ing a vote if you can’t swing it to them tall and Janky and the other shorter and that 1] put something your way later? heavy-set, rounded the corner mingling with ‘ He’s turned this way! Now ke’s coming! the passers-by and approached the youth- As 1 was saying, it’s the persuading tongue ful lounger. They passed with no sign of in his head that Terry has, all right, and recognition, but as soon as they had gone a_ the boys are with him. If he says he'll few paces beyond he threw away his cigar- carry the ward for a friend he’ll do it!” ette and sauntered off in the direction in “ And if he goes around looking for a which they had first appeared. polling-place in the spring of the year he’s A short distance from the door of the ‘liable to be run in for a nut!” McCarty ~ Station-house the two newcomers halted, the remarked disgustedly, for Frank Hill had taller facing it, the other with his back passed them and was striding toward the turned squarely. avenue. “ Tis a fine subject you picked ‘Loosen up, Denny, and act careless- for your discourse, but come on; I think like!” warned the latter. “If you had I know where our bird is headed for, but whiskers you’d look for all the world hike he’s only calling the inspector’s bluff and a cat watching a mouse-hole! ‘Tis well playing safe.” | you took up fire-fighting, for you would With one accord they turned and started never have made a first-class dick!” off in the wake of that deliberate figure “Ts that so!” retorted Dennis. “I mind ahead and as they passed the corner the a time when you mistook a murdering slouching youth reappeared from nowhere blackguard for a member of the British and trailed along unobtrusively in the rear. aristocracy—not but what the two would After that first comprehensive glance be a possible combination—and ‘twas a about him Hill did not even look back, blind man that beat you to the truth! How but walked on as though lost in thought, can I tell it’s the right man we'll be follow- yet with a definite objective in view. He ing when he comes out of there, and me_ crossed an intersecting avenue or two and nevér laying eyes on him before, if I don’t then on reaching the fashionable thorough- watch?” : | fare on the farther side, of which rose the “Vou could tell him with the tail of a park wall, he turned north. glance,” McCarty assured him. “ He looks ‘“Where’s he making for?” - muttered like a preacher that’s burdened with the Dennis. . sins of this world and hasn’t been eating, ‘“ Where would any faithful employee be regular. If I don’t miss my guess he'll going when he’s freed from being under turn in this direction, so the minute you see an unjust suspicion but back to the place him, begin to talk loud, but you needn’t where he works?’’.McCarty returned. “I shout enough to attract his attention and_ told you he’d play safe. ‘Tis the Creveling don’t call me ‘ Mac.’ Just make him think house, no less, that he’s headed for now you're minding your own business.”’ and there it is just ahead.” ‘‘ And what 711 I be talking about?’”’ Den- They slackened their pace and were a nis demanded in some alarm. ‘I’m no full block behind when Hill stopped at the hand at speech—glory be! Here he tradesmen’s entrance of the white stone comes!” house and pulled out his key. Flattening A tall, spare figure in clerical-black had themselves in the shadow of the same cor- appeared in the doorway of the station- _ nice beneath which McCarty had effaced house and paused, gazing deliberately up himself when he trailed the embryo bur-- and down the street. Dennis shot out a glar on the previous night they saw him lean arm in a gesture that was intended to unlock the door and disappear within. be argumentative. “And now what?” Dennis demanded. Fie 9 A ECOMICOOOKS. CO