Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

768 hear what he’s got to say. You're right about his mother, Mary—1I confess I didn’t think of her for the moment. I’d like to talk to him, like to find out, if I can, why he’s taken this stand, and make arrange- ments to get him away. He'll never know we're going on with the investigation till we've got all the evidence in hand. Think it’s too late to rout him out? It isn’t nine yet.” ‘I don’t know that he wants to see you,” Mary demurred. “It’s all settled, finished, as far as he’s concerned.” “ But if I’m to help him escape?” King insisted. ‘‘ You can’t manage it by your- self—you and Susan. We’ll put him aboard a train together—or a steamer, if he prefers that—and I needn’t come here again and annoy you until all our plans are com- pleted.” There was bitterness in his tone, and Mary felt a twinge of compunction. “Tt is good of you to do this, Wesley— I don’t think I could arrange it all by my- self.” She arose. ‘“ Come, then, but mind he believes only that we are going to accede to his wish and drop all further efforts in his behalf.” They stole down to the studio and up on the porch, but no sound or movement from within greeted the echo of their cau- tious footsteps, and King knocked softly on the door. “Hello!” he whispered. “‘ The door’s open! It swung inward when I touched it, and there isn’t a sign of a light— No, let me go ahead!” Mary would have passed him, but he barred her way and entered first himself. From the threshold she could hear him fum- bling at the table. ‘Lamp’s not here,” he muttered, and as he groped his way to the mantel she wait- ed, her heart fluttering wildly with a name- Jess fear. Then a match flared up, touched the wick, and the lamp chimney tinkled as King replaced it with a shaking hand. The light flickered and steadied, showing the long, low room to be empty. “Quick! In there!” Mary pointed to a door at the side. “It’s a_ storeroom. Something may have happened—” King hurried forward, holding the lamp ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ~ aloft, and disappeared into the inner cham- ber, and as instantly Mary had darted to the table where her quick eyes had dis- cerned a small square of white. Her fingers closed over the envelope, and she thrust it into the bosom of her gown with no need to read its contents. George Lorrin had gone to take his for- Jorn chance! CHAPTER XX. THE VOICE OF FEAR. % O one in there, and only a packing N case of books has been rummaged in!” King reéntered the studio and set the lamp on the table, gazing at Mary over its top, the footlight effect giving him weird bluish shadows about his eyes and mouth. ‘‘ What do you think has become of him, Mary?” “ He’s tried to get away without giving us an opportunity to help him any further?” There was desolation in her tone and she was oblivious to King’s stare. “ You’re sure it’s that?” he asked, then added quickly: “ My car’s just around the turn; perhaps he’s taken that?” “No, he wouldn’t.” Mary shook her head. ‘He doesn’t want any help from us!”’ ‘“‘ Then he’s a fool. He’ll be taken, sure.” King checked himself and then remarked after a pause: ‘‘ We’re doing no good stay- ing here, Mary, with this lamp to draw at- tention to us. I’d like to find the fellow and give him a lift—do you suppose he’s made for the station here, or at Scarborough or Harmon?” The suggestion roused Mary from the shock of their discovery and she cried: “No! Put the lamp out and we'll go, but leave the door open. He may come back.” She turned toward the porch. “I don’t believe Mr. Lorrin would risk a sta- tion near here on the main line, but do go and look for him, Wesley. Try the back roads—anywhere. I'll wait out in the gar- den as long as I can, and if I don’t hear from you I'll slip out and telephone you in the morning. Find him. Save him from being caught.” SA DOOKS oO Com (@) (S@)