Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

SOME me like that! Wait! Put that gun down— it might go off! Listen!.” | He got out of his chair and stood before Richards. His face was ghastly, but there was an eager sincerity in his manner that was convincing. Richards looked-at Lawton; then slowly replaced the weapon. “Gentlemen,” said Gray, “I admit I have-sometimes indulged in sharp practise. But the thing you speak of is out of my line. I am going to tell you all I know of the case—about Morrell, that is. “Morrell has done some work for me, from time to time. It has been in the mature of espionage—nothing more. If he has committed any crimes it was not with my knowledge or consent. If Morrell has done so he has done it on his own initiative. “He was here one day, not long ago— the day your man Hammond—Hamlin— came. He had previously mentioned you and Miss Richards. He seemed to have a private grudge against the young woman and yourself. But I never inquired into it. I was not mterested. “ But on that day he seemed to feel especially vicious. He spoke of your owing him money. If I remember, he threatened Miss Richards. I thought he was merely ranting and did not pay much attention to his talk. Believe me, gentlemen, I have no further knowledge of the affair.” Gray’s manner was convincing. Lawton and Richards exchanged glances. Lawton nodded his head a quarter of an inch, thus indicating that he accepted Gray’s declara- tion of innocence. Both men got up. Into Richards’s eyes had.come again the expression of haunting anxiety. ‘‘ Gray,” ‘he said, “ don’t bother me any more about that directors’ meeting. I .be- lieve what you’ve said about not know- ing anything about this abduction. I’m apologizing to you. But I warn you that I’m going to attend that meeting, and if you do anything to keep me from doing so —if you try any monkey business—I’m coming back here and shoot you so full of holes that you'll look like a sieve. Just re- member that when you’re pulling off some of your damned plotting!” MAN! 135 Lawton and Richards walked down the stairs and out into the street. ‘That settles it,” declared Richards as they walked to the waiting taxi. ‘ Gray was telling the truth. Morrell is working his private grudge. I’m going to turn this thing over to the police.” CHAPTER XX, DOUBLE-CROSSED, R many minutes Hamlin stood near the center of the room in the Rich- ards residence, watching Frayne. The man was still on the floor near the wall, muttering and gibbering, his right arm outflung, his head resting on it; the left hand pressed to his face, where Hamlin had hit him. Silent, remorseless, implacable, Hamlin continued to watch, and Frayne made no movement. to get up again would mean that the ques- tion: “Where did Morrell take Barbara Alden?” would issue from the lips of his merciless inquisitor, to be followed by more . punishment—if he refused to answer. And Frayne was beginning to believe that in the end he must answer. He knew where Morrell had taken Barbara Alden— though Morrell had not told him that Bar- bara Alden was in reality Miss Richards. Morrell had not taken Frayne fully into his confidence. But Frayne knew that to divulge the whereabouts of Barbara Alden would constitute an act of disloyalty to Morrell—and he dreaded Morrell’s rage more than he feared punishment at Ham- lin’s hands. : However, the punishment he had already received had gone a long way toward break- ing his spirit; and when at last he raised his head it was to look at Hamlin with a consciousness of the futlity of attempting to deny him. Frayne sat up, his back to the wall, and glared with mingled hate and terror’ at Hamlin, who was watching him, his jaws set like a steel trap. Frayne’s eyes dropped from Hamlin’s; they glowed with cun- ning. He began to get up. He slid up the COMIC OOO S It was evident, hg knew, that (© 5}