Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERFECT SCHEME. Dost laughed. ‘I had been waiting for that,” he said. “ I’ll be generous with you. Only fifty per cent.” Harvey laid the pen down. “ Fifty per cent!” he cried. ‘“‘ Why, that’s highway robbery!” “Easy there! What in hell did you think? That I was going to put this thing across for twenty-five dollars or so? Get your wits unscrambled, kid. I mentioned that I was being generous. Fifty per cent is generous, damned generous! Just sign that paper and quit making funny jokes. There are some other things to talk about, and I want to get this witnessed to-night.” Harvey reached for the paper, affixed the words ‘‘ Merle Wentworth,” in a bold hand, gulped, and sank back, shivering with ex- citement. VI. AFTER leaving the lawyer’s office Harvey went through the motions of eating dinner, but his appetite had fled before the rush of emotions that beset him. The whole business seemed so unreal! Here he was definitely committed to a conspiracy to steal more than five hundred thousand dollars! The prize was _ great, enough to tempt anybody inclined to live by his wits. But the penalty, if he were detected— Well, he shuddered to think of it! Nevertheless, he was getting a terrific kick out of it already. Playing for high stakes he was. Visions of newspaper head- lines came to him, such as: CHARGES THEFT OF $500,000 ESTATE Half Million Stolen by Clever Ruse—Plot- ters in Toils That part of it gave Harvey the shiv- ers. But the terror thus inspired vanished before other imaginary press items: YOUNG MILLIONAIRE WEDS STENOGRAPHER Romance Which Began in Office Reaches Happy Climax After an extended honeymoon in Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Sykes will make their home in Great Neck, Long Island, where the bride- 841 groom has purchased an extensive estate. Mrs. Margaret Hollis, mother of the bride, will reside with the young couple. Stuff like that. Harvey let his thoughts run along these pleasant channels. Already he had decided to explain the affluence which was to be his by the story of a legacy. That would be the only safe bet. To attribute his new wealth to sudden business prosperity might lead to embarrassing ques- tions. After awhile the young plotter snapped out of his dream. He was getting away ahead of the game. He wondered how Dost was coming on with the forged papers. The latter had promised to telephone him around ten o’clock that night, which left some hours to kill. What better, then, than going to see Clare? The sooner he started events mov- ing toward the end he had in mind, the easier it would be to clinch matters when the proper time should arrive. Thus, armed with a box of roses, Harvey presently pressed the bell of Clare’s flat in Welling Place. She seemed a little surprised at seeing him, but exclaimed with pleasure over the flowers. “IT thought you might take them to your mother,” Harvey told her. “She'll love them, poor dear,” Clare as- sured him. “I was just about to go to the hospital. Perhaps you’d like to come along.”’ “Nothing I’d like better,” he said. “What do you hear from there?” ‘She is not in pain any longer. They do not think she has been hurt internally. But it will be a long siege for her, at her age. Iam told that she can’t possibly leave the place for at least two months.” “Oh, that is too bad!” Harvey’s voice was filled with sympathy. “It will be pretty tough on you, Clare.” “ Nothing will be too tough on me if she only comes out all right.” “Of course.” He nodded understand- ingly. “I wish I could do something to make it easier for both of you. If I ever can——”’ “T know,” she interrupted. “ It’s mighty Gomichooks (E@)