Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 96: what you’re looking at

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- 566 were sulkily respectful, no more. ‘“‘ What can I do for you?” -- “You can first chase out any tempera- mental cats that might kick over any ex- pensive vases in your vicinity,” grated Arthur with an indurated malice propor- tioned to the other’s pseudo-civility. ““ When you have done that—”’ “There will be no such episode this “morning, sir.” 7 | “Thank you. Now, get Mr. Black on the wire—and no nonsense.” “ At once, Mr. Jones.” “Tell him T’ve been reading that motto —he’ll understand.” “Hold the wire, please.” _. Mr. Black’s thrice welcome, albeit some- -what gruff, voice was titillating the carbon particles in the receiver glued to Arthur’s ear in a trice. “* Hello, Jones—how’s tricks?” “The world is mine—and yours, sir.” “Eh? You did it?” “Yes, sir.” “ Fast work, Jones. I didn’t expect to hear from you for a week.” “Thank you. When can I see you? I prefer not to talk over the wire—for rea- sons.” “* Reasons?” “ Leading to other reasons which I much prefer, also, to explain or discuss in person, sir.” “Right. I get you. Well, Jones, Sat- urday is a bad day for a man like me. But I'll look up my engagements and wedge you in somewhere. Hold the wire a minute, will you?” <4 €5;-Sir,” os: And, Jones ”—Mr. Black lowered his voice sientfcantly—* I don’t know ‘the Bostonese for cagy, but be it, will you?” ‘“* Cautious, sir?” “ Oh, very much worse than that.” = Supercautious?” smiled Arthur to the mouthpiece. “Yep. And then some,” hoarsely whis- pered his eccentric employer. “If you feel like it, why, hire a bodyguard until you see me. But do not let any one know yowre coming to see me, and be sure you’re not followed.” ~ From Mr. Black’s manner and tone as ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. he laid down the receiver it was evident that he was quite intent on preserving se- crecy at his end of the wire. Arthur’s swift conjecture that the sub-— ordinate, who had “ stalled ” him the day before with a flimsy excuse to account for an irrepressible oath, was not trusted with the details of the work in hand, comforted him. He didn’t like that voice. It was as distasteful to him as the threatening hiss of a serpent. Mr. Black had flatly said, he recalled, “ My own private secretary don’t know I’ve hired you.” Following a delay, however, during which assorted sounds filtered to him, suggesting opening of desks, clicking of typewriters, and the like, the same hateful accents rude- ly jarred his mental jubilation. Until then Arthur had expected Mr. Black to return to the phone in person. “Mr. Jones?” “On the wire.” “Mr. Black is temporarily detained. He directs me to give you these instructions for the interview with him.” Very well.” “ You will please make no written nota- tion of them, as before.” aes | undefstands 2 “Intrust them wholly to memory, as previous instructions and data have been handled; and, to make sure that you under- stand them correctly, repeat them back to me.” “Very well.” “Mr. Black finds that it will be impos- sible to see you until about eight to-night. This he regrets. But as he did not expect to hear from you quite so quickly on the matter you are handling for him, you caught him rather unprepared. “At eight o’clock to-night, therefore, you will go to confer with him. Leave your hotel in ample time to reach No. East One Hundred -and Twenty-Fifth Street sharp on the hour. Ask for him at the door. You will be conducted to a room. Did you hear the street and number plainly, sir?” | Arthur repeated them. __ “©. K.,” returned the man on the other end of the wire. “ Mr. Black enjoins upon i: Eomichbooks:co me