Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

494 i “Vou were surprised to be discharged,” suggested Craton. _ “ Were you provoked?” “You mean was I angry—mad,” snapped Deston, turning almost savagely. _ “FF you will.” “Well, I was. Iwas angry. I felt I had been treated in a way that was utterly un- called for. If Mr. Sands wished to dis- pense with my service it was his privilege, of course, but there was no reason for him to de it in the way he did.” “And you have no idea why Sands dis- charged you?” insisted the lawyer. Deston’s lips parted in a smile. “I’m afraid that’s something we will have to ask Mr. Craton to solve for us if he has the time to consider so unimportant an aspect of the case. I can’t even make a guess.” _ €raton glanced thoughtfully at the light- ed end of his cigar. Now he knew Mr. Sands’s secretary was not being frank. — A THEORY. “HE arrival of an automobile took Des- ton from the room. {In a second he was back. “‘ Sheriff Homes and Coroner Sutton,” he announced. Marsh turned to Craton, who nodded. The two officials followed Deston into the room and were introduced. In a few words Marsh explained what had occurred and the five men passed into the library. _The coroner lifted the steamer rug and knelt beside the body of James Sands. “No wounds on the body—nothing but _ these marks on the throat?” he questioned. “‘] have noticed nothing else,” admitted Graton, observing that the coroner’s ques- tion was directed to him. The coroner bent lower and studied the bruised throat with minute care. Finally he arose to his feet. “Do you believe those marks on the : throat caused his death?” he demanded of Craton. His manner was the least bit as- _ gertive. ‘the lawyer, —— ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEERLY, ‘Craton shrugged. “Rather a question — for a physician, is it not?’ he asked. “Well, I don’t believe he was strangled _ and there isn’t another mark on the body.” - “Wasn’t strangled!” frowned Marsh. “ Then how in the world—what caused his death?” The coroner glanced over his shoulder at the body. “You. all know what kind of a man he was,” he suggested. “Tf you mean what kind of a life he led, we do,” admitted Marsh. “ He trav- eled with a very fast set, was a heavy drink- er, thoroughly dissipated.” “ Spent a pile of money,” put in the cor- ener in his assertive manner. “Ves,” admitted Marsh. os Had an allowance from his father, I suppose; never did any work himself?” “He had an allowance from his father, but he never Hives within it—always after more money.” “And such a man, living such a life, un- doubtedly had a weak heart,” rushed on the coroner, 2 little breathless with what he considered the importance of the point he was going to make. “You mean,” cried Marsh, “ that while he may not have been choked hard enough to have killed him the fact that some one tried to do so—judging from those marks— had brought on heart failure.” : The coroner nodded, well satisfied with the point he had made. “Then it’s the same thing,” snapped Marsh. “He was killed by whoever made those marks on his throat.” “Is that your judgment, Mr. Craton?” questioned Sheriff Homes quietly. “It might have happened,” admitted Craton, meeting the frank regard of the sheriff. “If some one attacked him and tried to choke him his heart could have given out under the excitement and strain of the strugele.” ““That’s my idea exactly,” nodded the coroner eagerly. ‘‘ His father and he had a quarrel. His father surely didn’t stand for his continuous demands for money without some protest. Did he?” wheeling on Marsh. — ‘“ No,” came the reluctant admission from “He didn’t. Lately, however, i (€(6) Gomicbooks