Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

398 “ No doubt this appears to you in utter confusion,” the old man smiled, “ but I know exactly what letters and pictures should be on top. I can see that the con- tents of this trunk have not been disturbed since I last opened it.” ‘But who should be prowling into your trunk?” John demanded indignantly. “You never can tell. Now, my boy, dig down through all that mass to the far corner your right. Feel anything?” e “It’s a small metallic box.” Mr. Warring sighed his relief. “Lift it out. You'll not find it heavy. Although,”’ he added anxiously, “ it shouldn’t be alto- gether light. to you.” : ‘““T think there is something in it. Of course the box alone has a certain weight.”’ He drew to the light a flat, oblong, shiny- black box. The other tested it in his careful hands and banished half-formed fears. Mr. Warring snatched up a soft-cushion and shook the cover empty. ‘ Put the box in this cover; I don’t want any one to see what it is.” John, obeying, was startled by sudden darkness. “It’s all right,” the old man whispered. ‘‘ I’ve switched off the light to make sure no one is in Cousin Glaxton’s room. ‘There’s no light shining under his door.” . “You thought Simmons might be spying in there?” ‘““One never knows. But it’s all right. And it’s good and dark outdoors. We might as well take the box now. We’re going to hide it, son, till I get back from the timber lands. I know of a splendid place—I’ve thought it all out, lying in my bed so long— under the summer-house. I have the spade under the back porch. I wouldn’t dare go away leaving the box in the trunk. Put your ear closer: it’s filled with bank-notes.”’ “But surely it ought to be deposited in the bank.” : : “No. There it would get out of my hands. You see, Cousin Glaxton manages my account. I can’t explain. I know I have this much money and I can’t be ab- solutely certain about the rest. I shall hold on to this, for you and Lucia.”’ John exclaimed impetuously. ‘“‘ You dis- I hope it doesn’t seem empty ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. trust that man Glaxton. Why don’t you get rid of him? Revoke his power of at- torney. Now that I’ve come home—”’ The. other grasped his arm in the dark- ness. ‘‘ Hush, boy, not so loud! We mustn’t hurry things. Oh, we have to be so cau- tious, so easy, so slow, and all the time seem so unsuspecting! If he gets a hint that we doubt him, if he finds one inkling that we suspect+—he could ruin us all. Of course I mean if he wanted to; if he’s bad at heart. But of course we don’t doubt him; not really, you know. He has always been so helpful, and knows how to quiet my heart when all the doctors are useless. But we have this box. Whatever comes, we have this box. And, besides, of course everything is all right. Hush! Your Cousin Glaxton will be back in the morn- ing. That’s why I’m going to-night. He wouldn’t let me go if he were here. I’m not telling you my destination nor Just ex- actly why I’m going. That ’Il make it easier for you to deal with him. You'll simply be at liberty to tell him all you know, which is next to nothing—except about this box.” ‘You sha’n’t fear that lawyer while I’m here,’ John persisted. ‘It’s none of his business where you go and I’d like to see him try to stop you.” : “You don’t understand. But you will when you meet him. And he is so helpful and energetic, and kind.” ‘Would a good man have lied to the min- ister to drive him from your house?” “Don’t let’s talk about him, son. Your Cousin Glaxton isn’t a man to be explained. I gave that up long ago.” He softly opened the hall doer, then tiptoed back to whisper: ‘““A good while after your cousin began taking over the management of my business I began to draw in certain funds such as he knew nothing about. He’s an incredibly lynx-eyed gentleman, but he can’t see every- thing-—that’s beyond mortal power. I con- verted all my outside interests to bank- notes. Of course I couldn’t hide my farms and forest lands and I seldom ask questions because your Cousin Glaxton abhors ques- tions. And it would never do to antagonize | Nobody else can quiet my heart. Bear that in mind while I’m away, He’s all right. I’m sure he’s all right. If he Gomichoo O) cS (EC)