Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

ANNIHILATION. “Come out of it, Denny! We're not in church!” McCarty admonished, and then turned to the inspector. ‘‘ You see, sir, that fellow who died down there by the wharves was wearing his own cheap shoes, but the expensive hand-me-down clothes of another man not his own build, and who would that have been but his employer? He’d shaved too often and more close than usual unless he was constantly in service, like a butler or a valet, and if he borrowed, without leave, cigars too good for the hkes of his taste he might have borrowed a hat, with- out leave as well. It struck me the keys was his own, though, along with the little metal tag, and that’s why I thought maybe we'd save time by stopping here first.” ‘You were right again!” Inspector Druet exclaimed heartily. ‘‘ I was in such a hurry that I took too much for granted. We'll see what Mr. Orbit can tell us.” But Mr. Orbit did not immediately ap- pear, and as the last notes of the organ throbbed into silence Dennis found his Voice. : “ Valet or no, what was any one from a srand house like this doing down in that tough precinct by the water front, and in all the storm? Answer me that! What did he die of? Did the ambulance doctor know?” The inspector shook his head. “Tt wasn’t up to him to say; he just pronounced the man dead and now it’s the medical examiner’s job, but we’ll know in the morning, after the autopsy. What have you found over there, Mac, anything inter- esting?” The room into which the Chinese had ushered them was a library, modern and luxurious yet monastic in tone, with tall- backed, cathedral chairs, refectory tables and benches and dried rushes covering the anlaid marble floor. <A single huge log smoldered upon the hearth and books lined all the wall space from floor to ceiling be- tween the narrow, stained glass windows, while the light came from torches held in sconces and braziers suspended from mas- sive chains. McCarty had strolled over to a low row of open shelves where he stood with his back to his two companions and he seemed 811 not to have heard the inspector’s query, but Dennis explained gloomily: “Tt’s literature he’s took up now, all along of that new school the commissioner’s opening at headquarters. This psycho- whatzis has gone to the head of him, and I misdoubt Mac ‘ll ever be the same man again!” McCarty’s expression denoted symptoms of apoplexy at this slanderous betrayal, but before he turned he surreptitiously slipped into his inner breast pocket a small, thin pamphlet bound in pale blue paper which had fallen almost into his hands when he removed a larger, leather-covered vol- ume. He replaced the latter and turned with dignity to approach the hearth once more. “You'll need to lose no sleep over me, Denny, and there’s more than me would not be hurting themselves by improving their minds!” he announced cuttingly. ‘The inspector’s here on a case of—of sud- den death, not to listen to your opinion of my private affairs!” There was an amused but affectionate softening of the inspector’s keen eyes as they glanced at his erstwhile subordinate and he opened his lips to speak when a pleasantly modulated voice from the door- way behind them fell upon their ears. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” it said. “Tam Mr. Orbit.” Dennis and Inspector Druet rose, and the three visitors turned to find a tall, slenderly erect man in immaculate dinner clothes regarding them with gravely inquir- ing eyes. He must have been well over fifty, but the lines in his strikingly distin- guished face were those of strength, not age, his dark hair was only lightly pow- dered with gray at the temples, and he bore himself with the lithe, unconscious poise of a man at the apex of his prime. As he advanced into the room the in- spector stepped forward to meet him.. ‘““Sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. Or- bit, but we will only detain you for a few minutes. I am Inspector Druet from police headquarters, and these are two of my as- sistants. We want a little information about a certain man who carries a tag with this house address on his key-ring.” COMIC OOOKS.€O©