Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREEN STAIN. explain the fact that they can’t find out anything about him?”’ “ Don’t they know his city address?” “ Ves, but only an office, which is closed up for the summer.” “ Ridiculous! They ought to find him all the more easily if he is a man of impor- tance.”’ ‘‘T don’t mean of public importance, but I think—oh, I don’t know what! But I’m sure there’s something mysterious about him.” “I’m sure of that, too! And you know nothing of his private life, Mrs. Black- wood?’’ ‘““No; I’ve heard that he is a widower, but nobody seems quite certain. As I told you up here, nobody questions one’s neigh- bors.” “Isn’t it necessary before members are taken into the club?” | “Oh, yes; but Mr. North wasn’t a mem- ber of the club. Lots of the summer people aren’t members, but they use the clubhouse, and nobody makes much difference between members and non-members. It isn’t like the more fashionable beaches or resorts. We’re a bit primitive up here.” “ Well, tell me of North’s financial stand- ing. He’s a rich man?” “Not that I know of. But he always has enough to do what he likes. Nobody is very rich up here, yet nobody is really poor. We're a medium-sized lot in every way.” “ Yet North owns a fine motor-boat.” “One of the best and fastest. But he doesn’t own it? he rents it by the season. Most people do that.” “T see. And that not very pleasant fac- totum of his, Joe Mills? Is he a native product?” | “No, he came up with Mr. North. He’s grumpy, I admit, but he’s a good sort after all. And devoted to his master.” ‘‘ Ah, then he must be inconsolable at North’s disappearance.” ‘No; on the contrary he takes it calmly enough. He says North knows his own business, and will come back when he gets ready.” “Then he knows where North is—” “ He pretends he does,” corrected Claire. 127 “I’m not sure that he is as easy about the matter as he pretends. I saw him this morning and I think he is pretty well dis- turbed about it all.” ‘‘ Guess I'll go to see him. Thank you, Mrs. Blackwood, for your patience and courtesy in answering my questions.”’ “Then, Mr. Wise, if you’re really grate- ful, do tell me what you think about the Varian affair. That’s much more mysteri- ous and much more important than the matter of Lawrence North’s disappearance. Are they connected?” “It looks so, doesn’t it?” “Yes, but that’s no answer. Do you think they are?” “I do, Mrs. Blackwood, I surely do.” And Pennington Wise walked briskly over to the bungalow of Lawrence North. He found Mills in no kindly mood. _ “Whatcha want now?” was his greeting, and his scowl pointed his words. “*T want you to take me out for a sail in Mr. North’s motor-boat.”’ “Well, you gotcha nerve with you! What makes you think I’ll do that?” ‘* Because it’s for your own best interests to do so.” Wise looked the man straight in the eye, and had the satisfaction of seeing Mills’s own gaze waver. “Whatcha mean by that?” he growled truculently. “That if you don’t take me I'll think you have some reason for refusing.” “*T gotta work.” “Your work will keep. We'll be gone only a few hours at most. How is the tide now?” ‘“ Plumb low.” “Come on, then. We start at once.” Whether Mills decided it was best for him to consent to the trip or whether he was cowed by the detective’s stern manner, Wise didn’t know and didn’t care, but the trip was made. Wise directed the course, and Mills obeyed. Few words were spoken save those necessary for information. Their course lay out around the head- land, and into the small bay on the other side of it. ; As they rounded the cliff Wise directed COMmiclboo SS C©