The Argosy for May — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

THE TIME FOR ACTION. Corning broke in upon him with 4 quick glance of_ interrogation. ‘“ Then you lost the extra thousand you got from Rock, too?” he asked. 3 “Oh, yes; every cent of it.” ‘“ And all we have is these bonds? ”’ ‘“That’s it. And that’s why I say we ought to sail at once. There’s no chance to do business here any more, so the sooner we get to the other side the better off we’ll be.” A moment before the pulses of the man concealed under the couch had been thrilling and bounding with exultant happiness; for he had that surest proof in the world, the word of his rival and enemy, that the woman he loved, loved him. 3 But now. the triumph and the joy turned to ashes in his mouth, and he saw standing before him the open door of a felon’s cell. There was no chance upon earth to recover the money paid out upon that worthless draft. CHAPTER IX. - THE CATCHER CAUGHT, IN his rage and desperation at the plight in which he found himself, see- ing nothing ahead except ruin and dis- grace, it is the greatest wonder in the world that Rock did not dash ~forth from his hiding-place and, with the loaded weapon in his hand, end the ca- reer of Arthur Corning then and there. And, indeed, until his dying day that scurvy villain will never be closer to breathing his last. ‘Three separate times Harry stiffened his muscles for the spring; three separate times his fin- ger was curled tight about the trigger ; three separate times his lips were framed to the shout which should an- nounce. his onset. * But, in the end, the tense limbs re- laxed, the finger lifted from the trigger, the shout remained in his throat. He lay back, weak from the struggle, quiv- ering in every fiber, the sweat standing out in great beads upon his brow. But one impulse had restrained him— the thought of Anita. First, lest her name might become involved, owing to the admissions Corning had just made 213 to Spear. Second, because he had it in his power now, by relinquishing his ven- geance, to save her dearly loved brother from the scandal of a tarnished name. Only by his keeping still at the pres- ent time could the bonds be recovered without publicity and disgrace to George. Accordingly, he lay back, clenching his teeth and gripping his hands to com- mand his self-control, until at last, after some further desultory conversation, Corning proposed a visit to one of the roof-gardens, and, the other acquiescing, they took their hats and left. Hardly had the door closed upon their departing figures before Harry was out from under the couch and across the floor to the desk, which stood beside a window. A moment’s examination of the lock by the light of a match; and then setting deftly to work with his pocket-knife and piece of twisted wire, he soon had the receptacle open. Nor had he to rummage long for what he sought. He had watched Corning carefully when the latter put the bonds away, so now his hand closed almost in- stantly upon the precious envelope. Nothing now remained but to get away. His task was done. But first he must make sure that there was no mistake; so he lighted another match, and held it as he hurriedly ran over the contents of the package. Yes, this was what he wanted, beyond question. ‘Ten railroad bonds of the value of one thousand dollars each, all in the envelope, and all in good con- dition. And now, at last, he could go, But just at that moment a window flashed up on the other side of the court, across from Corning’s apartment, and a shrill, feminine voice fairly split the air with shrieks of “ Burglars! Burglars! ” Startled and dismayed, for he realized that it must be to him attention was being directed, Rock wavered an_in- stant, uncertain just what to do. Then it came to him that to remain there in the room, beside the rifled desk, would be fatal. Even though he was known as a friend of Corning, he would necessarily find a situation of that sort difficult to explain. No; he must try to get away, Whatever the hazard. MICLOOC) S (CO)