The Argosy for May — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

THE CRIMSON “Yes,” I said, all attention now, ‘I do 9 “This myster’ous feller,’ pursued Shadrach, “ maybe hasn’t seen you. He mayn’t even know youre in France. An’ he’s passin’ himself off as you. He got Robbyspeer an’ the public pros’- cutor to let him put Miss Elise into that convent place, an’ sign your name to the commitment. Now, the prosecutor chap might be bribed to do that; but Robbys- peer’s said to be so straight he bends backward. That’s what I can’t make out. How’d he get such a hold over Robbyspeer, an’ by usin’ your name? If he’s a rev’ lootionist boss, Robbyspeer must know all about him, an’ must know his real name ain’t Braith an’ that he ain’t an American. Yet he seems—”’ ‘* Whoever he is,” I put in, remember- ing the scene at Montmartre, “he is known as ‘Jack Braith, American,’ And, from the way people add _ the ‘American,’ it looks as if they don’t be- lieve it, or that they are just quoting his own words about himself. How could he have got hold of my name? And for what reason? We've only been here a few weeks. He must have as- sumed the name before then. So it can’t be that my arrival in Paris has—’ “ Jest what I said,’ chimed in Shad- rach. ‘I doubt if he even knows you're in France. You've been livin’ pretty quiet, up to yesterday, an’—” “But if he doesn’t know I’m here—” “Tf he doesn’t, he’s sure to find it out mighty soon. Some of these spies that happens to know him are sure to mention there’s another ‘Jack Braith, American,’ stayin’ in town. An’ when he finds that out—” “Then we can meet, and I—” “Oh, son!” scoffed Bemis, ‘“ you’re plumb foolish. D’ye s’pose he’s stole your name an’ nationality jest for a measly joke? Not he. I don’t know what his reasons is, but you can gamble they’re good, useful ones. So it looks plain to me he won't be over happy at learnin’ that the real Jack Braith turned up in Paris. Two Jack Braiths is one too many. An’ it ain’t much of a stretch to figger out that he’s likely to fix up a little guill’tine party for your ben’fit, as soon as he finds you. Now do you see you're in danger here?” HARVEST. 269 “No,” I returned, “ not in the least. These crazy revolutionists can cut off each other’s heads to their heart’s con- tent, but when it comes to laying hands on an American citizen, our min- ister will have something to say. And when Uncle Sam orders ‘Hands off!’ people have a way of obeying him.” “Hm!” grunted Shadrach. “ All you say *bout Uncle Sam is true, son. But when it comes to your own Case, that’s a horse of another color. Didn't Minister Morris git madder’n a wet hen the very minute I says your name? I couldn’t count on findin’ one of them blank release orders every time I hap- pen to drop in on him, Next time it might—”’ “That’s true!’ I had to confess. ‘This man who’s stolen my name seems to have used it and my nationality once too often, as far as Gouverneur Morris is concerned. I’m afraid I could look for little help, after all, from our em- bassy.”’ ‘““He’s imposed on Morris, somehow,” went on Shadrach, “an’ Morris has found out he ain’t American. So, if it came to your usin’ that same Jersey name to git you out of jail, you’d be l’ble to stay behind bars all your life, before the minister’d help you. No, son. You see whar you stand. You're jest a coquettin’ with the guill’tine, by hangin’ on here in Paris. Let this fel- ler git on your trail—which he’s bound to before long—an’ you’re a dead man.” “ Upon my soul,” I laughed uncom- fortably, “ you’re a cheery companion! ”’ “TI ain’t extra strong on refined hu- mor,’ retorted Bemis, “ but I’m talkin’ good horse-sense, an’ you know it. I'll tell you suthin’ else, that any one but a lover would ’a’ seen before now. This other feller has reasons for wantin’ to git Miss Elise comf’tably out of the way. So he put her in the convent. What them reasons of his are I don’t know, not bein’ a prophet nor a mind- reader. But they must ’a’ been pretty strong ones to make him risk’ the chance of gettin’ nabbed for misusin’ state dockyments fer pers’nal grudges. fs eee el “ But, tell me, what harm has Mlle. de Périer—?” “ Besides.” he went on, unheeding, CORICLOO© S (C@