Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE INNOCENT. “ For Heaven’s sake!” she gasped, in a voice that was really piteous. “Oh, you didn’t mean to betray your fools!” declaimed Steve, giving Paula her cue. “ You can tell them you were inno- cent! But you weren’t clever enough. This man, for instance, knew his scoundrels took marked bills off my body last night—” “ That’s a lie!” croaked the hook-nosed man. “I never saw them after the firing commenced!”’ ‘Oh! So you ran as fast as that! ‘““What firing?” gasped Paula. “Qh, one of the results of your little in- vestments!” said Steve, with biting truth. ‘““ There was a battle at the beach between bootleggers and hijackers. Maybe some- body was killed, I haven’t seen the news- papers. Perhaps they’ll find a ‘ murder mystery ’ shortly!” Paula laid a hand to her bosom. “Ah, what have I been doing!” she groaned. ce “Say nothing, Paula!”’ commanded the > visitor, between tight lips. “‘ Keep mum!?’’ ' “ Never mind that!” snapped Steve. “Put your hands up! Turn around! [ll see if any of my bills are in your pockets!” “If I bad any bills I’d be far away!” snarled the visitor. “TI believe it,” admitted Steve, disap- pointed at his search. “I suppose you crooks all scatter after you make a killing, eh?” Steve brightened. ‘You could find your friends if you wanted to, though!” “Sure I could! What of it?” Steve appraised him for a long time. “Well, maybe you'll talk better when you've had a good rest,” decided the cattle- man, at last. “ I’m going to hold you here for awhile. You'll think it over. Paula, get me some clothes line!” “No!” she gasped, in real alarm. “ Let him go, Stephen! This is too terrible! It’s dangerous!”’ “Go!” he roared. “I told you this mockery is over. Get that clothes line!” “Hurry!” urged the hook-nosed man, whose eyes sent a message to Paula. “Oh, she can’t escape!”’ snapped Steve. 2 There are other men watching! I’m not sO easy! ” “ This is madness!” persisted Paula. 4A 209 “ce Go! 2 She went, tossing up her hands, The visitor dropped his attempt at bluster. He licked his lips. Then: ‘“ Couldn’t we fix this up?” he suggested. “No. Not till you get that money back from your men!” “ TH get at)” “You bet you will! Do you want to correspond with those fellows right now?” ‘And get ’em into your trap? Ya-a-a! You're slick, you are!” ‘All right; what would you suggest?” “How much money did you lose?’* Steve told the truth. “‘ Forty thousand dollars?’’ jaw sagged. off your” “ Ha-ha! roll, eh?” ‘* Grafter?” “Yeh, grafter! How else would a Federal agent get that much coin, eh? You big bum, you'll not get that back without workin’ for it! I’ve got somethin’ on you now!” “That’s right,” conceded Steve, carey. ‘‘] made a mistake.” “You bet you did! Ha-ha! And you’ve got the nerve to threaten me!” ‘“ That’s enough!” snapped Steve. ‘“ Sup- pose you’re all wrong? Suppose I wasn’t crooked? Are all Federal agents crooked?” ‘“Nope. They’re not. But they don’t drag big bank rolls around, mister!” “All right. Suppose I’m not a Federal agent at all?” The man’s eyes widened. ‘““Oh!” He drew back a step. “I see it now! A hijacker! The paymaster, eh?” The man’s “You mean the boys got that His eyes became triumphant. So the grafter got soaked for his ‘All right,” agreed Steve. ‘‘ What of it? Will you get your men together?” “Sure.” Sweetly. “Ill bring ’em all! They’d like to meet you!” ‘One at a time!” “Oh, no!” “Go to the devil, then!” Paula returned with a coil of strong clothes line. She was loat: to give it over. ‘““ What an actor!” she remarked, looking at Steve. “You poor boob!” “He fooled you!” snarled the visitor, 2OOKS: