Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

‘MOORS END. A glance showed it to me nearly empty, on the floor. The man must have taken a good swig of ' it before he climbed down from the window. It had probably only given him an unusual spurt of strength, for I didn’t see how that amount of whiskey could have made any man—who was used to it—drunk. ‘Well, Peter, whatever it is, he is quiet enough at present, but as he is a very dangerous man when he is awake, suppose we take a turn or two of this rope around his arms and legs. Now, then, you tell me your story first; then, I will tell you mine and—by the way, have you got such a thing as a cigarette or some tobacco on you? I am absolutely dying for a smoke.” Peter grinned in an understanding way, and produced a package of cigarettes which he offered me. “‘T understand how it is, sir, I get takert that way myself. It is a bad habit, as Mr. ' Deane says, but it’s a great comfort to a man in times like these—only”—he glanced around nervously as he spoke—“ perhaps you’d better not smoke here—Mr. Deane doesn’t allow it. I go into the cellar for mine.” “Mr. Deane isn’t here, now,” I said coolly, as I lit a cigarette and took a long breath. “Jove! these are good cigarettes— I thought you only smoked a pipe.” ‘<I do when. I’m here, but when I go off, I buy these cigarettes as a sort of a treat, sir.” “ And bring back a good supply to keep the ‘treat’ going, eh?” I laughed. “ See here, Peter, yeu must have one of your own Cigarettes to keep me company.” He protested, but I finally persuaded him to take one while he talked. Even then, he kept glancing around from time to time as if he expected to see his irate mas- ter appear suddenly. “T left here ‘Fuesday morning,” he said. *“‘ My sister was took ill very sudden in Boston, and Mr. Deane gave me leave to go for the day. She got worse and died, and I sent a telegram to Mr. Deane telling him as how I had to stay on to the funeral. Then, when I was ready to come back the next day, the storm was too bad and I had to wait till yesterday afternoon. 425 “When I landed, they told me as how the bridge here had been blown down by the storm, and I decided to wait until this morning when it would be calmer and row around from Tom Davis’s landing; two miles below. He’s a sort of a cousin of mine on my mother’s side, and not much of a credit to the family, anyhow, if I may be excused for saying so. Not that he isn’t good-hearted; he offered to take me over here in his power-boat, but I know Mr. Deane never likes any one hanging around here or even coming into the cove, so I just borrowed a boat and rowed over myself.” “You got an early start,” I observed as he stopped for breath. “TI always wake early, sir, and along about five I got a sort of feeling that every- thing wasn’t just right over to the house here, and I couldn’t wait no longer. As soon as it was light, I took the boat and came over, thinking I’d slip in and get breakfast ready as a sort of surprise to Mr. Gregory.” “‘And you'll have a chance to do that soon, for I’m as hungry as a horse; but, first, I want you to tell me a few things. You spoke of ‘he’ being here; has Mr. Deane been in fear of any one that you know of?” “Yes, sir,” answered Peter without any hesitation. “ It’s that nephew of his, drat his worthless soul! Excuse me, sir but I get angry when I think how he has kept Mr. Gregory worried all these years with begging letters threats and what not. “We haven’t heard from him for over two years, and then Mr. Gregory got a let- ter one morning recently. He looked sour when he read it and he said to me: ‘ Well, Peter, he’s out of jail again, so we had better look out for ourselves.’ It was then ‘we got the dog, and had the window fas- tenings fixed up. Now, sir, do tell me what has happened while I’ve been gone.” “‘ Wait a moment; do you know just what was the reason Mr. Deane feared a visit from his nephew?” “Well, sir, as far as I could make out from what he told me, it was on account of some letter or paper of his that Mr. Deane had and which he kept as a sort of hold over - him. Now, sir, if you will be so g ginal fro MeO) mt a) (lDOOKS CO THE O 410 ) STATE UNTV