The Argosy — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

240 A Dark Deed. growling was proceeding from the dark passage where poor E. was still standing, hugging Dummy. Therefore I abruptly answered cabby’s last question, by saying : * No; she’s a lay-figure.” “Oh! is she,” said cabby, looking perplexed, evidently wondering what sort of creature that might be, but not liking to show his igno- rance by further inquiries. I closed the street door. We carried Dummy up to my painting - room, and deposited her on a chair in the corner, when E. and I had a good hearty laugh over the little adventure. The hour being late and our mission accomplished, my friend and I very shortly started for home. At the street corner we separated, and as I said good night to E., I heard someone across the road remark in a hoarse voice: ‘‘ Those are the fellers.” ‘Turning to see by whom the observation was made, I recognised our late Jehu in close confab with a representative of the law. However, my con- science being easy, I paid no further heed to the remark, but proceeded on my way homeward. The following morning at my usual hour I arrived at —— Road. Quite forgetful of the previous night’s adventure, I proceeded up- stairs and into my room, and was about to close the door when I saw my landlady pursuing me with an expression of face which plainly showed she had something unpleasant to communicate. ‘T am sorry to tell you, Mr. L.,” she said, in a somewhat chilling manner, ‘‘ that three men—two of them policemen—came to make inquiries about you early this morning.” As my complexion did not undergo any sudden change at this announcement, she proceeded in a less austere manner, but still watching me closely. “They say that you and someone else were seen to bring a body round from a doctor’s house in the next road; and one of the men who conveyed you in his cab says you told him the poor creature’s throat was cut, and her head nearly off, and that you said you were going to give her a coat of paint. He told me her groans as you carried her up the steps were quite dreadful.” ‘Where are they?” I asked, ready to explode with laughter. ‘ff told the three of them,” proceeded my landlady, “‘ that I felt sure there must be some mistake. If I had not been so decided I really believe they would have insisted on breaking open your door ; but they agreed to return later, when I said I knew you would ~ admit them into your room to look for themselves. ‘They have just arrived.” | Very well,” said I; ‘‘tell them to come up.” My landlady ran down a few stairs and called over the banisters, and her invitation to step up was promptly followed by a tramping which conveyed a terrible sense of the weight and majesty of the law. In course of time, the three men reached my landing, and scarcely ECORNIE OOO KS.(EO)