Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

RED And Lester’s partner and capitalist, Mr. Colter; he had vanished too! She was in her office by this time. The entire staff was at lunch, save the old bookkeeper, who was eating from a paper parcel in a far corner. She took the telephone book and sought the street and number given her as Lester’s address by the tramp, but it was not an apartment house and was not listed. Then she tried ‘ Information,” which, after some demur, supplied her with the number, and she called it with bated breath. After an eternity a woman answered the phone. Yes, Mr. Lucus lived there— No, he was not at home. She had not seen him for several days— No, he had not said he would be away. She didn’t know anything about him. Nora was pale when she hung up. It was true. Lester had been spirited away. She had enough now to justify her appealing to the police—or had she? Nora hated the thought of the police. After all, she was not related to Les- ter; she could not even say she was engaged to him; he probably consid- ered her as a pleasant acquaintance, nothing more. But the beating.of her heart told her that he was more than a pleasant acquaintance to her. She wanted to talk to somebody about it, to ask advice. Mr. Daven- port was impossible. She was not very friendly with anybody in the office. If she could find Chipmunk; but he might have vanished too. Stay—the Brinker girls! They were close friends of Col- ter. They had money and influence. Could she enlist them? “T’m- not coming back this after- noon,” she told the bookkeeper. “ Im- portant private business.” “You'll lose your job,” cackled the old employee. “T should worry,” she snapped as she looked up the address of Ludwig Brinker in the telephone book. In five minutes she was in a taxi which was making slow progress up- HOT. 521 town, while Nora chafed at each traf- fic delay. The Brinker residence would have awed her under ordinary circum- stances, but the ornate entrance made no impression upon her now. She pressed the bell with nervous en- ergy. Most likely the girls would not be home. Lunching at the Ritz. Some- how this made her lip curl because life was so unfair. The butler regarded her with consid- eration because she was very pretty. Yes, the Misses Brinker were in. What name? “They don’t know my name. Tell them it is in regard to Mr. Colter that I have called.” The man looked dubious, but mo- tioned to a seat in the hall and ascend- ed the stairs slowly. CHAPTER XV. NORA FINDS ALLIES. ~ ISS HILDA BRINKER will see you,” the butler stated on his return. “ Please wait.” Hilda came down the stairs after a half a minute’s delay, wearing a house dress of purple and silver, which drew a gasp of admiration from Nora de- spite her anxiety. She conceded rare beauty to the oc- cupant of the gown, too, despite her prejudice against these wealthy girls, and Hilda’s surprise at the attractive- ness of her visitor was ill-concealed. They faced each other, two lovely little creatures—Nora, with her blue- black hair and lovely creamy skin; Hilda, with her yellow crown and her great blue eyes. “ How do you do?” said the Brinker girl. “IT am not sure that the butler delivered your message correctly. Was it something about Mr. Colter?” “Yes,” replied Nora. “I know it is a liberty to call on you in this manner, but do you know where he is?” Hilda’s eyes narrowed as she ap- praised the other. COPMIGOOOKS (E@)