Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

COMMON riot on the market. Oakes Radell found himself fighting like a wild beast to pro- tect his financial interests. Twice during the day he thought for an instant that he was not going to be able to weather the storm. But Harrison Had- ler’s associates were disconcerted, and Oakes Radell struck at the right moment, before they could formulate a new campaign. He smashed down stocks and he smashed Had- Jer’s associates—and emerged from the con- test a heavy winner. Four o’clock in the afternoon, with the tumult at an end, he sat in the private office of his suite, discussing the Hadler crime with two of his brokers. “‘T just about hated Hadler myself,’” he admitted. ‘‘ Hadler had a lot of enemies. Of course, I know nothing of the circum- stances except what I have read in the news- paper extras, and the rumors, but I’d say offhand that some burglar shot him.” ‘“‘ Might be,” one.of the brokers said. “ The police will get the fellow, probably. Hate to hear of any man being shuffled off like that, of course—but his death certain- lv saved us!”’ | The brokers nodded. Oakes Radell lighted his cigar afresh and started to con- tinue the discussion. - But the door opened, and his private secretary stood framed in it. ‘“‘ Detective Sergeant McGuire and an- other officer to see you, sir,” the secretary said. Radell shad been expecting it. He wel- comed it. He would meet the detectives, convince them of his innocence, let them chase away after useless clews. He told his secretary to show them in, and they entered immediately. The two brokers took their departure. Oakes Radell motioned toward two chairs at the end of the long table in the middle of the room, and the detectives sat down. Detective Sergeant McGuire took the chair nearest Radell. Saul McGuire, as most men knew him, was fifty and had been in the department since the age of twenty-two. There was nothing sensational about the methods of saul McGuire. He was no Sherlock Holmes. He gathered facts, compiled them, KID GLOVES. 315 investigated them, and in a heap of chaff found a grain of truth. A simple and direct method that was neither swift nor spec- tacular, but got results. “Want to talk to you about the Hadler murder,” Saul McGuire said. ‘ You’ve heard of it?” ** Naturally. It created a sensation in the market.” “IT understand yeu cleaned up pretty well.” Oakes Radell’s face flushed and a sus- picion of anger showed in his manner. “‘ Mr. Hadler and myself were leaders of two rival groups in the market,” he said. “I admit that hisedeath proved profitable to my side. I would not have taken advantage of it, I assure you, except that I was compelled to do so to keep from being wiped out my- self. If the police wish to know the inside of the deal—”’ ‘“* Don’t care anything about it, Mr. Ra- dell,” Saul McGuire cut in. “I want to ask you a few questions.” “Go ahead.” “You and Hadler weren’t the best of friends?” “‘ Quite the contrary. We did not like each other personally, and we were business enemies always.” “You're frank about it.” “Why not? I have nothing to hide. I'll be still more frank—I just about hated Hadler! I choked up with wrath every time I set eyes on him. But I’m sorry to hear that he was- murdered.” ‘Have any personal quarrel with him lately?”? Saul McGuire wanted to know. “No, sir! I have. not exchanged words with Mr. Hadler for three months or so. We took pains to have luncheon at different cafés, and all that. We fought our fight in the market, through our brokers.” “T understand. Mr. Radell, I want to eliminate you, if I can, from a list of sus- pects. I can do that, possibly, by asking you some things.” “‘ Go ahead.” ‘Where were you yesterday afternoon? I have ascertained that you were not here at the office.” “Easily explained,” Radell replied. “When I have a big deal on I have a habit comicboooks C©