Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

THE DEVIL’S FLOWER. what they were doing, aside from me, so I would dangerously drift with the tide. Sure enough the big red touring car stood parked outside the main door. ‘The driver tipped his hat as I stepped inside the tonneau. ‘The curtains were drawn, but as the machine didn’t turn around I had the impression we were going uptown. We rode for about twenty minutes, stopping with a lurch that nearly threw me out of my seat. The driver opened the door of the ton- neau and asked me to follow him. We were on one of those indistinguishable streets that leave no impression on the mem- ory, and the brownstone house we entered was similar to many in the row. Evidently we were expected, as the door was opened by a butler in uniform. ‘“Come right upstairs, sir,” driver politely, and I followed. I had done as requested by Merritt’s operator, walked right into the lion’s den, but let me make no excuse; at the mention of my Julia I would have done so in any case. As I turned the banister on the next floor, playing follow the leader, I felt a hard object in my back that felt like only one thing—there is never "any doubt about a revolver. “Here is where we check your hard- ware,” a low voice said, and my back pockets were patted for a weapon, and I was relieved of the one I carried. “ Now march straight ahead of you into the front room.” But the revolver was still pushed into my back, and I felt a man’s breath on my neck. All this without looking around. The room into which I strode was oc- cupied by four men, all wearing masks. The fellow who had frisked me‘also wore one, and the total effect was the odd one of a masquerade in daylight. But it was all for my benefit—the curtains, I noticed, were tightly drawn. “Sit down, Dr. Warner, and make your- self easy. We don’t mean any harm,” said one of the masked men, who, by his man- ner, I took to be a leader. “In fact we never. resort to violence unless it is abso- lutely forced upon us.” said the 615 I thought I would play stupid. ‘ This is all very strange,’ I said. ‘“ Hardly do-I get out of bed than I receive a telephone call to come here if I wish to see my fiancée alive again. What is the meaning of this? I would like an explanation—and I beg of you to bring her to me.” ‘The answer is a simple one, Dr. War- ner. We have detained the young lady here, against her will it is true, merely for the purpose of having you visit us. We knew her presence would be a strong argu- ment,” he said. ‘‘ Now that you are here we have the privilege of asking you a few questions—about that formula you stole.” e I sighed. ‘Ts there any reason to go over that?’ I asked. ‘I have told one of your repre- sentatives I haven’t got it.” He laughed gratingly. “We want the truth—and we are going to get it! There are more ways than one, doctor; you should know that.” His tone was oily and cruel. ‘“ Torture!” I exclaimed. “I warn you that you can get nothing out of me that I do not know—not if you push red hot needles up my finger tips.” “Why, doctor, I am surprised at you, even suggesting such old-fashioned methods of extracting information. A modern man like you, surely conversant with the newest tricks of your trade. No, we are going to use a scientific means to make you tell what you know. Call the doctor.” Another masked man entered the room, _ and I noticed that he carried a hypodermic syringe in his hand. ‘Dr. Warner,” said the ‘ mouthpiece ” of the gang, “ did you ever hear of scopo- lamine, or hyoscine?”’ " Yes,” I replied, “ it is used in ‘ twilight sleep,’ to keep the patient from remember- ing what happens afterward.” : “And have you heard that it has also been secretly used in third degree methods by the police to get at the truth when sus- pects won't talk? That it deadens the imagination, and removes apprehension, so that a man can’t think of anything except the bare facts of what has actually taken place?” “ This is all possible,” I admitted, Eomichooks cO