Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

302 He had not missed his wallet until he was inside the auction-room, and this young woman had forcibly collided with him as he entered the place. | She did not look like a thief, but one never could judge by appearances. If this was a coincidence it was certainly an ex- -ceedingly remarkable one. , CHAPTER V. FACING THE MUSIC. ALPH HENRY’S first impulse was to denounce the young woman who had just acquired title to the state bed of the mad King Godfrey—to accuse her of grand larceny and demand her arrest. But he checked that impulse. It occurred to him that such a course would in all likeli- hood be attended by rather unpleasant con- sequences. He had no proof to offer immediately that the thousand-dollar bill was the one that had been stolen from his pocket. The only way he could prove that would be by calling on his employer to substantiate his charge. Binger had jotted. down the num- ber of the bank-note before he handed it to him, and by producing that memoran- dum could conclusively prove the young woman’s guilt. But this could not be done, unfortunate- ly, without opening the eyes of the news- paper reporters to the fact that the Peanut King was desirous of getting possession of the famous bed. Parker realized that such publicity would be anything but agreeable to his boss. He did some quick thinking, and decided to keep his suspicions to himself for the present. After all, he reflected, nothing was to be gained by acting hastily. The girl flashed him another triumphant smile; then turned and left the auction- room. Ralph Henry followed her, unob- trusively. It was his intention to shadow her until he had ascertained her identity, and where she lived. Then he could report the situation to his employer, and leave it to the latter to decide what was to be done. . His evil star, however, still appeared to ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. be in the ascendent. He did not learn the young woman’s name or address that day. He trailed her up Fifth Avenue as far as Central Park. There she hailed a passing taxicab, in which she rode.off westward through Fifty-Ninth Street. Parker looked about him in vain for an- other cab in which to continue the chase. There were plenty of taxis in sight, but they were all occupied. He was obliged to stand by helplessly and watch his quarry disappear. : He went back to the auction-rooms and had a talk with the cashier. The latter indignantly refused to give him any infor- mation about the identity of the purchaser of the bed. The fellow laughed incredu- lously at Ralph Henry’s assertion that the deposit the young woman had paid was the bill that had been stolen from his pocket. He advised Parker to consult an alienist, and threatened to have him committed to the psychopathic ward of Bellevue Hospital if he did not immediately make himself scarce. Parker went home to his boarding-house and spent a sleepless night. At nine o’clock the next morning he pre- sented himself in the private office of Mr. Horatio Binger. His face* was haggard, ‘and he had forgotten to shave. His employer looked at him sharply. “Well, young man,” he said, ‘‘ how did you make out at the auction sale yester- day?” ‘““Rotten!” Ralph Henry replied deject- edly. “I not only failed to buy the bed, but I have lost the thousand-dollar bill you gave me. That is to say, it was stolen from me.” “Stolen, eh!’? Mr. Binger frowned du- biously. ‘“ Let’s hear the story.” Parker told him what had happened. “Tm awfully sorry, sir,” the young man wound up, ‘but perhaps everything will turn out all right after all. If we act quick- ly we may still be in time to get that bed, and nab the young woman, too. It proba- bly hasn’t left the auction-rooms yet, and, although they wouldn’t give me any satis- faction yesterday, if you will put the matter at once in the hands of your attorneys they will most likely sing a different tune.” AA Gomichoo (@) “S