Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

FACING your mother is in a safe deposit box in Syracuse.” “In Syracuse?” “Yes. Mr. Brooke has been away all day. His sister and I both know that anybody can open that safe if he tries long enough. Was it not natural for his sister, and I, his cousin, to take the liberty of conveying such a treasure to a place of real safety? And what safer place can there be than the vaults of a bank?”’ Turning to Harden, she added, with smiling contrition. “I hope you won’t be angry with us. But you can assure Mr. Bates that the jewelry is in a safe deposit box in Syracuse, and that it can be produced when required.”’ ‘Well, when can I see it?” asked Ray- mond. ‘“ My mother—” “Is it necessary for you to see it at all?” she asked, quickly -““ Only to identify it.” ‘“ But,” she smiled. ‘“ Mr. Brooke has no package of jewelry except what was taken from your house by the burglar, so there can’t be any question that it is Mrs. Bates’s property. You can set her mind at ease by telling her it is in a place of perfect security in a Syracuse bank.” ‘What bank is it?” “My safe deposit box is in the Second Mercantile,” she replied. There was a pause, during which Ray- mond Bates tried not to look conscious that she was gazing at him with mis- chievous amusement. At last he blurted out: “Very well, Miss Severly. I will tell my: mother. It was—er—very good of you to take so much interest in the matter. I appreciate it, I am sure.” ‘Well, to be frank, Mr. Bates, I did it for my cousin, Harden, more than for you. Still, I am glad that you approve what I’ve done. I only hope Harden won’t scold me too much when you have gone.” This was a hint that Raymond Bates felt obliged to take. There was no ex- cuse for his remaining any longer. So he stammered out a confused “ Thank you, A CRISIS. 451 Miss Severly. Good afternoon!” and managed, somehow, to get out of the office and the house. As the big car surged away, in a cloud cf smoke and dust, Harden Brooke turned to Letha, with a puzzled smile that was quite without mirth. CHAPTER VIII. LETHA HAS HER HANDS FULL. . ‘THAT was an ingenious way of help- ing me out, Letha,” said Harden, looking curiously at her. ‘“ But it is only a temporary expedient. What shall we do when he finds we’ve been lying to him?” ‘Who says we’ve been lying?” she countered, with an _ enigmatic smile. ‘“Some stories that seem doubtful are marvelously like the truth. Don’t you think Mr. Bates believed me?” “Perhaps. But it will be easy for him to telephone the Second Mercantile Bank in Syracuse, and find out whether you have a safe deposit box there or not.” ‘“ He can’t very well telephone to-night. By the time he gets back to Linhampton there will be nobody at the bank except the night watchman, and he won’t know.” ‘“That’s true!” admitted Harden, re- flectively. ‘“ But he can get the bank in the morning, and it will come to the same thing. For that matter, there may be somebody there to-night who can give him the information. It won’t be late when he reaches home. I know you meant well, but when he learns that you have no box at the Second Mercantile, he will be so suspicious that I am afraid the whole truth will come out. Look at it as I may, I can see only that I am in a very bad fix.” ‘“ Not so bad but that you can get out of it if you follow. carefully the clues in your hands.” “There will be no time for that, I’m afraid. What I have to do first of all is to hide from the Bateses the fact that you have no box at the bank. There is only one way to do that, and it will be an off chance.” | comicloool C©