Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

794 here in Winchester. TI am president of it and I’m anxious to get busy; time is pre- cious. What have you to offer, and how many acres?” “T guess you'll want to pay in cash.” There was a trace of sarcasm in his voice aS @ vague suspicion began to enter his mind. “Indeed I'll pay cash,” returned Dugan without a moment’s hesitation. “ That is, of course, if you have anything that appeals to me. “And I'll tell you what T’ll do, Mr. Daw- son,” he continued. “To prove that I mean business, Ill give you five hundred dollars as part payment to bind any trade we might arrange.” Reaching into his pocket, he dug up a roll of bills. Peeling one off, he threw it on the table. Dawson’s eyes opened in amazement as he saw the denomination of. the bill. “One thousand dollars!” he breathed. An instant later he smiled and turned to Dugan, his whole countenance beaming. “ Oh, that’s all right, Mr. Dugan,” he as- sured him. “It isn’t necessary that you pay me a single penny until we come to some kind of an agreement. Of course, I'll be glatl to show you around. It will be a pleasure. Just a moment and I’ll get my coat.” He disappeared into the next room and returned shortly. “I’m ready now,” he said. At his invitation, however, Dugan did not seem anxious to depart. Instead, he crossed his knee, drew a cigar from a pocket and casually applied a match. “ Let’s not hurry,” he suggested. “In the first place I would like to know just how much land you have for sale. Also I would like to pay you the five hundred dollars before we leave. I want to bind the trade, because, as I stated a moment ago, I mean business from the jump. Let’s attend to that first.” He motioned to the bill on the table. “ Well, if you insist I'll agree,” said Daw- son. He turned to a small safe in the cor- ner and knelt on the floor. A moment later he swung the door open and pulled out a drawer containing the five thousand dollars paid him by Stanton of the Langley Com- pany. Selecting five bills of one hundred ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. dollars each he turned to Dugan with a smile. The smile ended abruptly. Dawson seemed thunderstruck. Dugan had thrown back his coat, displaying an officer’s badge. His eyes were drawn to a fine line, fixed in- tently on the other man’s face. For a mo- ment silence prevailed. It was the officer who finally broke the deathlike stillness. “George Dawson, you are under arrest for having counterfeit money in your pos- session! I’ve landed you with the goods!” He rose to his feet as he spoke. Dawson, in spite of the feeling that swept over him like a dash of cold water, noted that the other man’s tone had changed. It was filled with authority, ringing like steel against steel. “I’m under arrest for what?” he finally sputtered, dropping into a chair. “For having spurious currency in your possession,’ repeated Dugan. “‘ Let’s see in that drawer.” He strode over and made a brief inspec- tion of the drawer and its contents. ‘“‘ Just as I expected,” he said. ‘‘ Some- thing like five thousand dollars. You might as well own up, Dawson, you’re hooked.” ‘Man, you’re crazy!” shouted Dawson excitedly. “I haven’t had that money twenty-four hours! It was paid to me yes- terday by a man named Stanton, represent- ing a large automobile concern. The Langley Company; one of the largest in the country. They’re going to build a plant here. Employ a large force of men!” He reached a trembling hand for the money on ‘the table as he spoke. “The Langley Motor Company, eh?” smiled Dugan. “ There isn’t such a con- cern in existence. You'll have to frame something better than that.” “T’m not framing anything!” cried Daw- son. ‘I’m telling the truth.” “Well, that’s neither here nor there,” said Dugan. “ The main point is this— you have a large amount of bad bills in your possession and it’s my duty to place you under arrest. You will have a chance to explain fully in due time. Can you make bond?” He reached for his hat as he spoke. Perspiration stood out on Dawson’s fore- CoOTmicoooks (C@