Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

206 ‘““Sa-ay! Are you like this all the time? Come with me, then.” ““ Aw, tell it to the police!” “No!” gasped Steve, remembering Paula’s connection with the affair. “Uh-huh. Old stuff! They always tie you rubes up so you can’t holler!” “All right,” decided Steve, in an un- steady voice which whimpered. “ You pore, onregenerate, slab-sided mule, stay here, then, and hold your pistol Aard! I’m going alone.” “©. K. My meter runs along just the same!” Steve fairly leaped toward the house lest he bite the man. He armed himself with a fence picket and searched the building from top to bottom. There was nothing there except shadows and echoes and the creaks of his own footsteps. At last he was forced to trudge despondently back to the taxi. He hadn’t found even a shred of paper for evidence. “Home!” he growled, entering the rear of the machine. “ Make it fast!” The lights of Paula’s house appeared before his vision in an incredibly short time. Well-clad persons laughingly de- scended the front steps and entered sedans or limousines. Steve was beset by qualms about himself. He jerked a mirror toward him. The dim light from the dash-lamp reflected upon a red-faced horror with tousied hair, a blackish eye, thick lips, and blood on the side of the neck. His shirt was in ribbons, its collar was torn out, his coat was ripped, and his trousers were coming apart. =e Ny gosh!” he gasped. “ Stop here! - Tl sneak in the back way.” ‘“¢ Oh, sure!” _ The taxi driver, certain of his pay, ap- plied the brakes. Steve got out. “Next time you start. avay from Jay - Corners,” advised the amiable chauffeur, “put your bank roll in a safety vault—and then don’t come!” For one turbulent instant Steve stood quite still, seeing red. Then the pent-up resentment from a whole night of mishaps was too mighty for his self-control. -Swiftly he jumped on the running-board, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. yanked the automatic pistol out of its side pocket, threw it intd the street, jammed the chauffeur against his wheel, reached up for the taximeter, smashed it over his cap, knocked him under the steering-post, grabbed him by the neck, shook him, bounced him up and down, shoved him to the floor, dumped the seat cushion on top of him, and left him gurgling and clawing for air. ‘““ Now say something smart about that!” suggested Steve. ‘‘ Something witty!” There was no intelligent reply. Steve, feeling slightly better, ran up the street, slipped into a little ivy-covered alley beside the house, reached the back yard, climbed some steps, and took an open door which led to the kitchen. A negro woman stood petrified amid piles of dishes and spoiled eatables. Another brought in trays and empty bottles. Steve rushed straight into a dim hallway. Voices came from around the corner, chattering brightly. The party was breaking up. Paula’s low voice was bidding some guests good night. Steve poked his cautious head around the corner. By luck he caught Paula’s eyes, which widened at the awful apparition and then recognized some trace of her step- brother under the mass of bruises. He beckoned and drew back. . She controlled herself and continued her small talk, changing not the slightest intonation in her voice. In time the door closed. She glided - around the corner. “Hurry!” she whispered. ‘‘ What has happened?” His jaw tightened bitterly. “T’ve met your friends!” he blurted. “Your real friends! Bootleggers—crooks from the gutter!” Paula turned white, but her head went. up. “You dare!” “Dare?” He clenched his fists. Words fought wildly for utterance; but still he was not cruel enough to shout in front of her guests. He growled: “ You have dared to send me to such a place, and now you ask that?” “T did not send you—” “‘ Evasion! You’re in it up to your neck. You’d better start explaining.” 4 eT ; < i an cy a a : u Gomicbooks = o = SORE IS CI Se Fane atK TN OEE Ving en PA Ne Oe Of RO ee . * 2» . - + eee en a > es - , S i ot ends > . Ww pale al Oe aly iE a a EE POE 6 ress IS,