Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

518 “Wait a minute,’ he called. “I want to see you two.” He sprang out of the taxi and ap- proached them. He was big and beefy, and authoritative-looking. “We're closed for the day. Sorry,” declared Lester. “T’m not a customer,” rumbled the stranger. “ You men are wanted.”’ “He pulled back his coat and showed a badge on his vest. “Do you mean we are under ar- rest?” demanded Chipmunk. “ How do you get that way?’ “Want the bracelets on you?” de- manded the officer. “We took down the sign,” declared Lester hotly. “ You have no business with us.” “You come for a ride, fellers,”’ com- manded the stranger. “ Better come quietly.” “ But what’s the charge?” implored Lester: People were passing, and some were stopping, and Chipmunk was very nervous. “Better go with him,” he urged. “Gee, we don’t want a scene here, £5,” “Not till I know what it’s about. Have you got a warrant?” “Not necessary. Want me to call my partner?” He nodded to the taxi from which a second unpleasant face was glowering. “Oh, we'll come,” agreed Lester. The growing crowd embarrassed him. “'That’s the thing to do,” declared the officer. “ The chief will tell you what you need to know.” They entered the taxi, followed by the arresting plainclothes man, who motioned to the back seat while he took a folding chair facing them. Once seated, Lester began an oration upon his rights as an American citizen, and the high-handedness of the police, with Chipmunk as a sympathetic audi- ence. ‘The two captors listened stonily. The machine darted around City Hall Park in the direction of police head- quarters, in the gathering dusk, but ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. suddenly swerved up the runway to Brooklyn Bridge. “Say, what’s this?” demanded Les- ter. “ This isn’t the way to headquar- ters.” A gun appeared in the hand of the man who had arrested them. = Sit down and shut up,” he instruct- ed. CHAPTER XIV. STRANGE FACES. ORA MEAGHER sat in her apartment within arm’s length of the telephone, an expression of ir- ritation upon her pretty face. Ran- dolph Milligan occupied the big arm- chair and talked to her about himself, but this was not the cause of her annoy- ance. She could turn her ears inside out and pin a sympathetic smile on her face, for all Ranny needed was an audience. Lester Lucus had promised to take her to dinner to-night to report progress, and Lester had not telephoned to tell her where to meet him. She had waited until seven thirty, then dined in the flat with her aunt. After that, it was time for Lester to telephone to apologize for failing to show, and this he had not done. Final- ly Mr. Milligan had put in an appear- ance with an invitation to a picture show, and Nora had been stalling for an hour in the hope of a message from the recreant. » While Mr. Milligan talked and she appeared to listen, she was cogitating somewhat in this fashion: “It serves me right for being nice to him. He’s just like all the rest of the men; when he is in trouble he rushes to a girl to get sympathy, but when ev- erything is going well he forgets all about her. “Wait till he shows up. I'll get even with him for making a fool of me like this. I guess I don’t have to be at the beck and call of Lester Lucus. (e(0) N”OOLKS AMUC (F@)