Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

a “ Trying to open that safe; couldn't you see?” replied Dash; and then, like a flash, the whole significance of the situation shot over him. “ Mr. Fors- dyke said I couldn’t open it, and he gave me the key and the combination to try it.” “Tt doesn’t look likely he would do that, Mr. Dykeman, when there’s ten thousand dollars in it,” observed the as- sistant skeptically. “Do you doubt my word?” de- manded Dash hotly. “No, not exactly, know ” “ Open that door, and get out of my way!” ordered Dash, burning with in- dignation. Kinney hesitated for a moment, and though he was a tall, powerful man, he concluded it was not safe to oppose the athletic and enraged young man be- fore him. He opened the door, allow- ing the other to pass out, and then ‘stepped over and put the safe key in his pocket. Dykeman was boiling with resent- ment that the assistant should even have had a suspicion that he was doing anything wrong. He did not for a mo- ment dream that he had been inten- tionally placed in the compromising position and that Brakewood Fors- dyke was playing a deep game. But he did not relish being placed in a false situation before even Kinney, though he could not blame the latter under the circumstances, and he deter- mined to see Forsdyke at once, that he might be placed right in the matter. He had no doubt the latter would ex- plain satisfactorily the false but natural impression Kinney had received. But he could not find Forsdyke anywhere about, and it was late in the afternoon when he saw him. Then he met the superintendent’s clerk on the platiorm, as he was apparently just coming from the village. The latter hastened to meet Dyke- man, and glanced hurriedly and keenly about him before he spoke. but you TRAIN AND STATION. 161 “ That’s a nice fix you got me in, Forsdyke,” began Dash quickly, and still in some excitement. “ I was a fool to touch your safe.” “Why, what’s the matter, Dyke- man?” responded the other, im feigned surprise. “ You are as pale as a sheet, as if you had seen a ghost.” “It’s worse than that,’ continued Dash seriously. “ While I was work- ing on the combination of your safe, Kinney came in. When I told him you had given me the key and combination, and asked me to open the safe, he doubted my word, and insinuated I was doing something crooked. He even dared to try to prevent my going out; but I tell you, if he hadn’t got out of my way, I’d have knocked him into the middte of next week. You did tell me to try the safe, didn’t you?” and there was determination in Dash’s voice, as he looked keenly at the express agent. “Ts that all?” laughed Forsdyke; “of course I did. Don’t you worry. I’ll make it all right with Mr. Kinney.” ‘““T want you to do it right now, and before me,” demanded Dash quickly. “Be calm, my dear boy; there’s nothing to get excited about. Kinney has gone home, and we'll see him first thing in the morning.” “Well, but be sure you do it,” re- sponded Dash with a menace in his tones, and not exactly satisfied. “I have half a mind to tell the superin- tendent all about it,” he concluded. “ Don’t do it, Dykeman,” protested Forsdyke hastily and in some alarm; “don’t you see how seriously it would reflect on me if the old man learned I had done such a careless thing as to give the combination of the safe to any one while it had that money in it. There’s no telling what he might do. I might get my walking papers.” This should have aroused Dyke- man’s suspicions that he had not been induced to try to open the safe without a purpose, but it did not. Alt right; PT spy potting ARE O inn