The Argosy, April 1916 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

A MYSTERY OF ROSCOE CONKLING PARK. bors, probably had the duty of showing the house to prospective tenants.” “It is not likely, that if they were new- comers, traveling light for a convenient get- away, they would have the key.” “Your arguments seem to dispose of my suspicions,” said Beverly. ‘But now I feel anxious lest harm has come to Dolly.” “But tell me, my dear girl with the sun- shine hair, who would want to harm Adolphus? He didn’t strike me as being a man to indulge in feuds, jealous quarrels over girls, or any sort of scrap.” “But suppose some one wanted to harm us and so wanted to keep Dolly away? Suppose our insurance appraiser was an ad- vance guard, or spy, and that some sort of devilment is planned for to-night—here— against us?” Yale looked at her soberly and pulled harder on his pipe. “You are a cool reasoner, Mrs. Owens,”’ he said. ‘And perhaps you are right.” CHAPTER XXV. DEEDS IN THE DARK, HE mystery of the night deepened. Hours passed, and neither Adolphus nor the old dame returned. One of two things was now certain. They had deserted, probably from fear, or harm had come to them. — Beverly and Yale talked over the possi- bilities. | ‘“‘Confound it, I’m a dashed fine hero in a situation like this,” he said. ‘Here I sit nursing a game foot that won’t let me walk a yard without cursing with pain. Con- found that short-haired scoundrel—T'll wring his neck if I ever get the chance.” “Tt is pretty certain now that Adolphus and his mother are not coming back,” said Beverly. ‘And we have not even a weapon. You didn’t have a pistol, did you?” “No. I never thought of it. I’ve never carried one of the things.” “T wish you had been a little more of a coward,” she answered. ‘You might have thought of it.” “I’m coward enough. For Heaven’s sake don’t get it into your head that I’m one of the brave ones.” “T’ll get agything in my head that I want there. And you are not a coward.” “Didn’t I faint with pain as soon as I got out of the woods?” wanted of the house plan. 51 “But you got out of the woods. A bul- let, a knife, or an automobile wreck makes no distinction of persons. Either will kill a. brave man as quickly as a coward. Well, we must plan for the night. Shall we sit up and wait?” “No, I’m not much in favor of the wait- ing and watching game. Have you ever seen a cat crouching at a mouse-hole?” “Many a time.” “Did you ever see the mouse come out and get caught?” ‘No, now that you bring that important detail to my mind, I never have.” ‘Just so. When you sit up to watch and wait for somebody to do a certain thing he does something else, or nothing at all. As I said before, I do not believe murder is in- tended for you or me. This is a sparsely settled place and we could be picked off by a pop-gun from the trees. No, if murder had been intended that jailbird would not have come here to-day.” “But he was certainly after something.” ‘He either wanted to spot me, or to get the plan of the house.” “To rob it? There are no silver wedding presents here.” 3 : _ “T can’t go so deep as to tell what they Perhaps they didn’t want it at all.” ‘“Here’s a question! Suppose that man had seen you instead of me? He would not have dared to say that about a furniture insurance policy.” : “No. In that case he might have been your aunt’s agent looking for you to prevent you from eloping with me.” “Nonsense! As if I would.” ‘““Wouldn’t you?” “No. Positively no. Now look here, Mr. Owens. We are married people. And mar- ried people don’t talk about eloping—at least with each other.” “Yes, but this kind of married life is like buckwheat cakes with the buckwheat left out. ‘All fat in the pan, I suppose. Well, it will have to serve. And if we are not going to watch and wait, I’m for bed. Are you going to your attic?” “Tam not. I am going to sleep on the next floor. There are five bedrooms, if I remember.” “Four. I fancy the big bathroom was a bedroom when you were a boy.” “Which is your room? I’ll-take the one next to it, when I’ve smoked ‘another pipe.” MICLOOOK C@