Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

630 “IT can’t, Mildred,” he replied. flat till pay day.” Remington and Talmage hopped into their own taxi and Talmage told the driver, *“ Take us to the Hudson Terminal.” Remington asked his partner after they entered the car, “ What now?” Talmage replied, ‘‘ We’ll have to talk it over. We've got her first name and her address. We couldn’t get more than that if we followed her home. We'll give her plenty of time to get there and then go see her. Meanwhile we’ll have to have an alibi. Let’s go to the movies on Park Row. We can talk on the way over, stay there for a few minutes, and then go up to call on Miss Mildred.” They got out at the Hudson Terminal, walked down one incline and up another. “We've got to be very careful on this,” Remington remarked. ‘‘ Garretson’s prob- ably been held up before, and he’s on to the game. We'll go to the movies for a few minutes and then hustle uptown to see the young lady. We must get her to come and see us of her own accord, of course. Then we'll forget about this trip uptown, and when you get down to the office to- morrow morning you can tell Miss Keyes about the fine movie we saw together to- night. That'll be your part of the game. Jit do the talking to—Miss Mildred what- ever-her-name-may-be to night.” They came to the theater just then, bought tickets and went in, but they came out in a few minutes and took the subway uptown. ‘The house in Universal Avenue was a five story walk-up apartment house for ten families. An examination of the names in the hall showed that one ‘‘ Mildred Long” lived in the third floor front apart- ment. ge “ There’s our client,” Remington said as he pushed the bell. The lock clicked, and they walked up- stairs. As they reached the third floor, an apartment door was opened by the Mildred for whom they were looking. She looked at them in surprise, then invited them in. Remington told her, “ My name’s Rem- ington, Miss Long, and this is my partner, Mr. Talmage. We’re lawyers. You know John Garretson, don’t you?” — 9 lm ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Never heard of him.” “Are you sure?”’ ‘Say, who do you think you are around here asking me questions? Sure, I’m sure. T don’t know anybody by that name.” “Tt beg your pardon, Miss Long, but I am greatly interested in John Garretson, and I know you know him, for I saw you with him early this evening.” “You saw me with him this evening!” **'Yes, at Hong Low’s.” “J was at Hong Low’s this evening, but not with anybody named, what was that name?” “‘ Garretson, John Garretson.”’ “No, I wasn’t there with him.” “Then, whom were you with?” *< None of your business so far as I know. Who’s this Garretson man?” : “ My dear young lady, John Garretson is the president of the Traders Bank.” “That’s a good one on you. The fel- low I was with was Howard Andrews, pri- vate secretary to the president of the Traders Bank. And you thought he was the president of the bank! The joke’s certainly on you. I wish he was president of the Traders Bank. He’s going to mar- ry me, though /e doesn’t know it yet. Id be in some soft, married to.a bank president.” : .“Y’m afraid, Miss Long, that the joke is on you. That man was John Garretson.” “ Garretson, nothing! I know better. He’s Howard Andrews. As if I didn’t know him well enough to know his name.” “ Miss Long, where does he live?” “TI don’t know.” “Did you ever write to him as An- drews?” “No, he said not to write to him.” “« Did you ever call him up at the bank?” “No, he said he was right in the presi- dent’s office, and the president wouldn’t allow personal telephone calls.” “He certainly was right in the presi- dent’s office. He’s been stringing you, Miss Long. It’s Garretson all right, and he’s not going to marry you, for he’s married al- ready.” “Oh, you’re all wrong. That fellow is Howard Andrews, not John Garretson. How could he be married when he’s been oO GOmMmicboo cS A (E@)