The Argosy, April 1916 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

148 The secret service men began to sift out - of the room and Atwater turned to Griscom, - who had reached the door. | “This sounds queer, Griscom. Orderly, show these sailors the way to the guard- house. Tell Captain O’Loughlin to lock up the prisoners and have double guards sta- tioned outside.” He then followed the detectives and the others down to the landing, where he-beck- ‘oned to several soldiers loitering on one of the parapets. “Are you the men who saw some one leave in a motor-boat?” he demanded. As the men saluted and replied in the affirma- tive, Griscom went up to them. “Can you describe the man?”’ “No, sir,” replied one of the soldiers. ‘We were not noticing particularly. He seemed a rather, short, thin fellow, but that’s all I can remember about him.” “You say there was a woman in the boat?” snapped Captain Granger. “There was something that looked like a woman lying down, sir; at least we could see a dress.” ‘“‘Was there no soldier on the landing?” “No, sir, the sentry was at the other end of his post; he’s just coming back to the landing now, sir.” oe The soldier pointed to a khaki clad figure with gun on shoulder walking along the edge of the sea-wall. A sharp exclamation came from Captain Granger’s lips. As every one turned to. him he stood for a moment, immobile as a statue. At length his lips moved. “Helen!” he said at length. “Helen!” Lansing’s eager voice chimed “‘Where is your house, Granger?” At the moment a matronly woman ap- peared from the fort walking down the brick pathway toward the officers’ club. ‘““My mother,” Granger cried and ran to- ward her, gesturing and calling. She paused surprisedly, awaiting her son. The group saw him speak to her and then turn away with a completely altered man- ner. “Helen,” he said, as he rejoined the men, “thas not been to the house at all.”’ “Not been to the house!” Griscom’s thin lips pursed. Then he glanced at Lansing. “Lansing,” he said, “this looks bad, very bad. 9 “Does it?” exclaimed Lansing angrily, while the hand of the captain went to the young man’s shoulder, as though for sup- in. THE ARGOSY. port. “Does it, Griscom? Well, before you come to any conclusions in that re- gard, how about your trusted lieutenant, Clarkin? Eh—” as Griscom started. ‘‘How about your man, Clarkin?” “My God!” Griscom started back, his face working. “Sure,” cried Lansing, keen to deliver a blow to the man who had stabbed him by breathing renewed suspicion of the girl, suspicion, which he was irritably aware was justified, and also suspicion which he was trying his best to fight out of his own mind. ‘Where 4s Clarkin of the government serv- ice?” He turned to Colonel Atwater. “That was not such a bad description of the man your soldiers gave. And you recall, Dart, how anxious he was to have the papers delivered into his possession at once.” Griscom’s eyes were burning. His fingers were working convulsively, for, of all men In his employ, Clarkin was one of those whom he most trusted. “Why, the other night at the Nealis dance, where he was disguised as a waiter,” Lansing went on, “he came to me and warned me to keep away from that girl be- cause she was a spy. Why did he do that? Why, because he wanted me to have noth- ing to do with her—a grand-stand play, so that he could carry out his own plans con- cerning her.” “Well,” snapped Griscom, ‘“‘he seems to have succeeded with the girl.” ‘“‘And with the papers, which Dart and I captured for you; you with your bungling are responsible for their loss.” ‘“‘What do you mean, sir!’’ Griscom re- sembled an angry snake about to strike and Lansing showed no inclination to evade his fangs. In fact he was pressing forward when Colonel Atwater placed his burly frame between the two angry men. ‘Now, now, gentlemen,” he growled, “this personality business has gone far enough. The important matter that con- cerns us is that a supposed secret service man, having obtained possession of valua- ble papers, has made off with them, ac- companied by a beautiful girl, whom I can- not believe was a willing confederate.” “Thank you, Colonel Atwater,” cried Granger. © “Griscom,” said Lansing, “I am sorry if I made you angry through my heated re- marks. You are right, of course, in suspect- COmicloo® S C@