Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

172 THE ARGOSY. Just as the desperate gambler bets his last white chip on a pair of twos, so did I put all my hopes on that man. I knew I was asking the enemy a favor, but I thought that even hostilities to the death would be called off in such straits as we were in. But I should have recognized the old familiar melodramatic gleam in the villain’s eye as he smiled sardonically. I should have known that we were in his power, and that he would go to any extremes to make the man who had cut him out uncomfortable. | I had grown insane about the finding of Santy, however, and saw nothing but hope in the polite proffers of that fiend, Jackson. But as soon as I left Miss Stafford’s house my own mind returned, and I commenced to suspect the polished ways of that dark eyed former wooer of the girl my chum loved. I entered the hansom which had been waiting for me and drove around the corner. Ther I told the driver to stop, while I got out and peeked around a fence, to see what Jackson was going to do. He came out of the Staffords’ and drove away in a sporty looking tilbury. I knew the driver of the hansom I had hired. He had been my Jehu and my chief adviser in the long search for Santy. He was foxy and, furthermore, most obliging. So I pointed to the retreating wagon and ordered him to fol-— low it. It went over on the west side of town and finally drew up in front of the very exchange stable where the batch of government horses had been sold with Santy among their number. | Immediately I assumed another role. I was now a detective on the trail of a sly scoundrel, who knew all the facts in our part of the game and was going to kill Harrison Davis under the pretense of being a friend. I say “kill”? with due forethought. This was how I worked out the scheme of Jackson’s treachery. He, being a horse dealer, could find out from his. friend, the auctioneer, where Santy was. He would buy the beast and take him away. Then, on the next day, when Harry would be allowed to go out, there would be no horse for him to see, and, as the doctor said, the poor boy would have a relapse brought on by disappointment. If the doctor wouldn’t let him go out, fhen the lad would be just as disappointed. Alice and I had told all these things to Jackson, and he knew all our plans, and would act accordingly. I firmly believe that he wanted Harrison Davis to die, and leave a clear field for him in the affections of Alice Stafford once more. I never posed as a hero in my life, but as I put the period to this line of thought, I said to myself: “ Carter Knowlton, you've got to act a star part for once in your life. It rests with you to frustrate the machinations of the villain in this little tragedy. You must get that horse before Jackson does.” As Jackson’s tilbury disappeared in the entrance of the horse exchange I jumped out of the two wheeler and entered the office. The proprietor left it as I came in, and did not see me as he went out by the door that led into the tanbark auction ring. “ Hello, Tom,” I heard him say to Jackson, “ when did you get in town?” “T arrived this morning, and I want to ask you one thing. Have you got GONG OOO UN ceo