Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

482 light on the lower part of the face while the quandary of the eyes was left in puz- zling shadow. He sat now in a relaxation so complete that it threw the aggressiveness of the man with the cap into high relief. “ There ain’t any way of doubting that you’ve got this doped to a fare-thee-well,”’ said Bud Gainer, “ but every plant don’t make a haul. How’m I to be sure, for in- stance, that this gent with the gray over- coat and the black neckcloth will walk all the way from the station to Albemarle Heights. He’ll have the price of a taxi if he’s got a front like that.” ‘“Some men walk because they have to walk,” answered Kain, ‘‘ but a good many walk because they’re expected to ride.” The man with the cap pulled it more firmly over his eyes as one who will not be talked down. “ That sounds fancy,” he remarked, “‘ but it don’t mean much.” Kain eyed him without the least ill- nature. “The same type of man,” he reflected, “makes a point of familiarity with ser- vants; he shakes hands with workingmen and jests with them. Such a man,” he went on, losing himself in the enthusiasm of anal- ysis, ‘“‘ tries to humanize himself by being ultrasimple. At the best he passes for a kindly soul; at the worst he successfully de- ceives himself.” Bud Gainer showed signs of aggressive discontent during this interlude. “What I want,” he said, and he dropped his fist on his knee, “is facts! The turkey without the trimmings will do me.” The eyes of Kain brightened and nar- rowed so that they seemed for the first time fully aware of the other. They were not unusual eyes in size or in their gray color, but in expression they varied continu- ally with a barometric sensitiveness. A mo- ment before they dwelt past and around the man with the cap rather than directly on him; now they focused with such sudden di- rectness that Bud Gainer straightened a little and returned the glance with a frown. “You eat at my table,” said Kain, “ and you take your turkey exactly as I serve it to you. All you need to know is that the man ‘ with the gray overcoat and the black neck- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. cloth will dismount from the ten o’clock train, check his bag, and start for Albemarle Heights down Turner Road. Follow him. ‘At the point where the road twists up directly toward the heights, cover him with your gun. He will not make the least re- sistance. While you are going through his pockets I shall run at you from the side and fire two blank cartridges. You will turn, shoot once well above my head, and then take to your heels. Then you will come straight back to this house, open the door with the key which I have provided, and wait for my return.” “ And how do I know,” said Bud Gainer, with a sullenness which proved that he ac- quiesced in the plans—‘ how do I know that the old gent won’t have a cannon handy and take a try with it when I tell him to hoist his mitts? How do I know all this game is going to run so smooth?” Kain answered: “There is no more chance of failure than there is danger that the sun will rise at midnight. However, ask your questions.” And his expression became once more half genial and half blank. “It ain’t hard to see with half an eye,” said Gainer, “that you’re an old-timer. Maybe a scratcher, or a baron, or a stone- getter.” He nodded and chuckled at his own penetration. “ But what I’d like to know is why you’re pulling this old gag on the gent with the gray Benjamin. If he ain’t blind he’ll see that the whole thing is a fake and hand you the ha-ha.”’ “If any other persons than Bud Gainer and Kain were concerned in it he probably would, for I suppose that no one in the world has a much more accurate eye than this same man with the black neckcloth. But you and [I shall not fail. Within three hours, Gainer, I shall have my introduction and you will have your five hundred.” “Which ain’t no particular reason for using my name so free. My moniker ain’t coin to pass about,” said Gainer. ‘“ Here’s another little thing, bo. After I’ve turned the trick how do I know that you'll kick through with the jack?” “‘ Just how you know that I can’t tell,” said Kain, “ and you'll have to ask yourself that question,” ~— CON) IGbookSneom