Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

LORETTA In fact I myself will be questioned. We are both about equally to be suspected. Ex- cept—” he added as if regretfully, “‘ except you see, you happened to go to his room.” He shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘ Well, that’s all there’ll be to it. They'll find the real murderer. He had a lot of enemies—that cad. You and I may have to answer a lot of questions. I doubt if they’d even arrest us—that is to say, not unless we gave evi- dence of trying to get away. That, of course, would be disastrous.” The doctor looked again to the other end of the room. The old man was there, and the fat woman was still busy with her tortillas. Then leaning over the table, Riv- ers whispered: ‘“ Do you know, Chilton, it looked so bad, I actually thought you had gone up there and potted that man. It’d have been just like you, b’gad!” Chilton paid him back with this: “ How do I know you didn’t murder the fellow yourself?” | “Hang it all, Chilton!” the doctor flared. “I can’t see a joke now. It’s too serious just getting it in the papers. Of course you don’t mind that. It'll help your polo. ‘Sportsman indicted for murder ’— and all that sort of thing. “ But look at me! My business depends on my reputation. Think of my wife. She’ll lose her mind. You know the kind of woman she is. If I so much as get a sum- mons for speeding, she goes into hysterics. Think of this! ‘And there’s my daughter—going to be married next month. What’ll they think— her fiancé’s crowd! They wouldn’t stand for it—that’s all! Murder! Good God! They’ll break the match off as soon as those headlines come out to-morrow. And I’ve never seen that little child so happy in my life!” “Yes, I noticed that the last time I saw her, Rivers! That, I admit would be most unnecessary: whatever happens we must remember that. Let her remain happy! And let her mother remain happy! No torturing of the innocent. We'll put a stop to that!” He alarmed Rivers by the thwack of his fist on the table. The two old Mexican peo- BRODELL, ple stared. Chilton looked at his knuckles which he had split that afternoon. ‘‘ Hang it all! I’m the one to blame! I mixed in where I didn’t belong—and here I find that your wife—and your little girl—are going to suffer for it!” “Tm not blaming you for that. saw me getting fleeced. You did the right thing. The fellows at the club are on your side. That is to say, except for the fact that it happened in their club. But now— holy smoke, think of what’s happened!” Chilton turned abruptly to the pro- prietor. “Come on with the tamales, senor!” The Mexican obeyed. Rivers was im-- patient. He refused to eat. ‘ What are you going to do?” he asked in torment. “You, of course, have nothing to think about except yourself. Besides you can probably prove an alibi.- I can’t. I was there—right up there in his room! “Tf you had a wife and daughter you’d know what my position is! Why I damn well think Pd get up and dust—yes, I would! But how can I with my daugh- ter—” ‘““No, you can’t do that,” Chilton de- clared quietly. “And yet, the case is so strong against me, what if they convicted me—” “* Nonsense!” “Such things have happened. And yet here I am—bound to stick it out and face that horrible possibility. Of course, don’t misunderstand me—I wouldn’t leave my wife and girl—not for all the wealth in the world. You see I’ve goé to face it! But I must say if*I had been in the position you are, it would be a simple matter. They wouldn’t catch me—” ‘You mean even though you are inno- cent you would run away?” ‘““T would run away from the chance of getting sent to the chair—as an innocent man!” the doctor asserted strongly. “Yes, true enough. That might be wise,” Chilton said seriously. ‘“ But you can’t, of 827 You - course.” He was tensely silent, remorseful. , He was thinking of that faithful woman— Rivers’s wife. He was evoking the picture of the radiantly happy girl. Dr. Rivers’s daughter had made a splendid match. It (COMIC NOOLKS (C@)