The Argosy for May — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

NOT FOR SALE. 5 lations, do you expect to hold the pris- oner known as Der Schnable? ” The captain frowned. “Just as long as we can, under the charge of suspicion,’ he retorted crossly. ‘We have no evidence against him, and will have to discharge him eventually ; but while we have him with us we are sure that he is out of mischief.” ‘ But,” interposed Caxton, “ suppose that evidence could be obtained against him of complicity in a very serious of- fense? Suppose, let us say, that he had committed a burglary, and was now alarmed over some hints I had let drop, showing that I had a suspicion of his guilt? If he were to be released this morning, would it not be his first im- pulse to go to those with whom he had stored his booty, and make sure that it is still safe?” “Ah, I see,” want—” ‘“T want this man released this morn- ing, and the moment that he leaves yonder door, a couple of your most ex- pert spies placed upon his trail, with instructions not to lose sight of him for a single minute.” “And you will personally press the charge? It will be burglary, I think you said?” “Tt will be almost anything you choose to make it. Enough, at any rate, to ‘keep him out of mischief’ for several slowly. “Then you vears. And I will press it, all right. Have no fear of that. Oh, yes, I will press it!” The captain leaned back in his chair, a slow gleam of satisfaction dawning in his eye at the thought of at last tri- umphing over the crafty Der Schnable. “Very well, mein herr,’ he said crisply. ‘It shall be as you say.” Accordingly, half an hour or so thereafter, a strange procession wended its way here and there throughout the streets of Vienna. To the fore, slinking along as SAW anxious to avoid attention, yet evidently free from any suspicion that he was followed, proceeded Der Schnable. Half a block behind came one of. the police spies, artistically disguised as a junkman; while still farther back loi- tered the other, in the role of a flower- vender. f uy And, at the same distance to the rear as this latter man, but holding to paral- lel streets, marched Tem Caxton, his movements being directed at each corner by the pseudo flower merchant, according to a prearranged code of signals. Up and down through many streets they passed, and into many different quarters of the town; for Der Schna- ble led them a long and devious chase. But, at last, as though satisfied that no possible danger threatened him, and that he might proceed direct to his destina- tion, he settled into a brisker, less errant gait. Into the Pestalozzi Strasse he turned, and continued along it for several blocks, to cut at last into a short side street with but one exit, Caxton, arriving at the corner below, saw the flower merchant beckoning ex- citedly to him, and came forward upon a run. Together they sped along the square ; then halted sharply, at a gesture from the junkman ahead, and peeped cautious- ly around the corner into Schwartzen- berg Platz. Der Schnable was just then ascending the steps at the residence of General Chegnay ! a CHAPTER XIX. . WITH CHISEL AND MALLET. “WELL, I'll be jiggered!” gasped Caxton, still hardly able to grasp the solution of the mystery, yet feeling, too, that he should have grasped it long ago. Plain? It was as plain as a pike- staff to him, now that the key to the riddle was thrust squarely under his nose. The general, Spartan old father that he was, rather than have his son marry contrary to his wishes, had simply hired two bravos, sent them to a spot where he knew his son was sure to come, caused him to be kidnaped, and was now keep- ing him locked up until he should agree to comply with the paternal wishes. This was the meaning of the old count’s agitation on the day of Caxton’s visit to him; and also of his evasion and hesitation until the American had prac- tically forced him into a lie. GComicbook CO