Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

FINDINGS IS KEEPINGS. again, nodded, and so slipped out of ‘the room im his usual snaky way, on the mis- sion assigned him. Meanwhile, Harry Vale had headed for a more respectable part of town. If it was not entirely chance, at least his passing the Maywell house again was quite invol- untary. A taxicab stopped before the door just as he reached it. Allaine stepped out of the cab, paid the chauffeur, and turned to mount the steps when she saw the cheer- fully smiling policeman. Her pale face glowed suddenly and she put out a cordial hand. “ Mr. Vale! I am so glad to see you again. You are quite all right?” ' “Td have to see a doctor if I felt any better,” he replied with his whimsical smile. ‘And our adventure the other night had -no ill effect on you, I can see.” “Oh! But when I had time to think it over—all that we went through—I was frightered Half to death,” she confessed with emphasis. admirmg paze; but she seemed quite un- conscious of his ‘attitude. ‘I am deeply grateful to you, Mr. Vale. And I know I ovight to write the commissioner and tell him of it all. You deserve commendation.” “Better not, Miss Maywell,” he said shaking his head. “‘ That means publicity.” ‘“Oh, I hope nobody will ever find it out!” she cried with sudden anxiety. “Just what do -you mean?” he .asked, with a sudden sharp scrutiny of her face. “That I went into that burning house. I depend upon you, after all, Mr. Vale, to help me hide it.”’ “From your brother, do you mean?” he shrewdly demanded. ‘“ My—my brother, Mr. Vale?” she re- peated, flushing. | “ That was his studio we entered,” Vale observed quietly. ‘‘ And I guess he does not know that you went there?”’ “Oh, Mr. Vale! You won’t tell him? If you do, he will suspect my reason for going there.” “Ves?” ‘The policeman waited, giving her an opportunity, if she would, of taking him into her confidence. But ‘her eyes pleaded for generosity. ‘I give you my word,” Vale said slowly, “that I will not Her luminous eyes held his 87 speak to your brother about it. In fact, Mr. Allan Maywell and I seem to lock wheels when we meet.” She did not hear his final phrase. She smiled rather wanly on him sas she re- peated: ‘“ You will not tell a soul, will you, Mr. Vale?” and then tripped up the broad steps of the front door of the house. It smote the policeman suddenly that he had just told Smooth Dick Prandle the name of the girl whom he had helped out of the burning studio. Yet this, he felt sure, would not occasion Allaine any pub- licity. Neither the district leader nor An- drew Maywell was likely to publish abroad the ‘facts regarding his adventure. That was what he had really promised Allame—to’ save her from publicity. He shrugged his shoulders and passed on. Had he realized Just what this apparently small matter was to lead to, he would have mounted the steps to the Maywell house after the girl and “had it out” with her, then and ‘there. When next he passed the house he was in uniform again, and it was his eight-to- midnight tour. No. 97 Trevorth Street seemed quite dark. He had not seen any light:here in the evening since the ‘funeral. He believed ‘the twins were both living here under the advice of Mr. George Wilmot, the family attorney; but they certainly were not entertaining. » He had other matters to think of on this particular evening. As he reached the end of his beat the first time he marked the group of young fellows with their backs against the wall of Chirotti’s coffee- shop on the corner of the noisy avenue. He had often seen them ‘before—and had studied their several countenances well. These were the budding gangsters of the neighborhood — fellows with whom he might expect trouble at almost any time. But thus far Harry Vale had not antag- onized any of them, and they had only a good word for ‘‘ the kid cop.” On his second round of the tour, after meeting his boss, he came along to the corner again and found the side street de- serted. This was a quiet street at best. If there was ever any trouble, it was back in the alleys and courts. ; cComiclbooks.com