Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

148 hard to tell whether she stumbled against the table or was taken with heart disease and hit the table in falling.” ‘The neighbors are going to be con- siderably disappointed,” observed the po- liceman. But the neighbors already had other things to think of. An automobile had stopped in front of the house and a girl in a tweed suit had stepped out. ‘“Tt’s her!” whispered the neighbors. The girl opened the gate, the chauffeur behind her lugging two suit-cases. Her face bright with happiness, eyes shining at the sight of the little old cottage, she started up the path. | Then she saw the people gathered there— the frightened faces. She stopped. None of the neighbors spoke or moved until, as Dr. Brent was opening the door, the wife of the traveling salesman darted toward the bewildered girl. “It’s her daughter,” whispered the man from the next house to the doctor, who, although he could not see the girl, sensed that some one had arrived. ‘Her daughter—” Then it occurred to Brent, who had been thinking of Elsie, that Mrs. Spalding might have had another daughter. There was a cry of ‘“ Mother!” from beyond the corner of the cottage. Dr. Brent turned away and started for the street around the other side of the house. He was still a very young doctor, and there were certain situations, especially where women were concerned, in which he could not act—well, quite professionally. CHAPTER III. THROUGH THE WINDOW. HILIP BRENT had an arduous time of it that day. He had built up a con- siderable private practise, and besides the death in Maple Street there was another case that required his attention as the sub- stitute county physician. A tramp had fallen under a train in the railroad-yard. The law required that he view the body and report his finding. THE ARGOSY. It was not until eight o’clock that even- ing that he reached his home, an old-fash- ioned house in the center of town with an old colored mammy in charge. Jewel had come north from Virginia with Philip Brent’s mother, and had been Brent’s nurse. Now she presided ever his establishment, directing the help, and ruling young Dr. Brent by the divine right of having been his childhood nurse. When mammy, in her old cap, had opened the door, she said: “‘ That Mr. Pen- dleton called up and say for you to call him on de phone soon as you come in.” Pen- dleton was the county prosecutor. Brent started for the telephone. “Where you goin’, chile?’ demanded Jewel, catching his arm. ‘‘ Going to telephone,” he explained ‘When you ain’t eaten a mouthful!” ‘All right,” laughed Brent. “ Have Amy send something in; I’ll be ready for it.” Brent found Pendleton’s wire was busy. He had time to attend to the food mammy jealously served herself before the opera- tor rang to tell him he could have a ton’s number. ‘You went out on the case of a Mrs. Spalding this morning?” asked the prose- cutor. 66 Yes.” “What did you find?” “Either the old lady fell and hit her head,” said Brent, ‘or it was heart dis- ease.” “No sign of violence?”’ ““On the body? Absolutely none.” ‘““ How about the room?” ‘ Everything in order,”’ Brent assured the prosecutor; then demanded: ‘“ Say, what are you driving at?” ‘“ Just this, doctor,” Pendleton explained, ‘* Mrs. Spalding’s daughter tells me that money that her mother always kept behind a loose brick back of the stove is gone.” - ‘* So!” exclaimed Brent. Then Pendleton said: ‘“ I wish you’d join Miss Spalding and me at the house in Maple Street in half an hour. That will give us time to get in from Ridgewood.” . Brent’s car and Pendleton’s swung in simultaneously from opposite ends of the block. comiclboook C@