Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRAZEN Thornton went to the telephone and called a certain captain of detectives whom. he knew very well. Fifteen -minutes later the police officer sat in Thornton’s study, inspecting the piece of skin and listening to the story. He did not speak until Thornton had finished; then he imparted some information. “We know who the murdered man was,” he said, revolving a cigar between his lips. “ He was identified to-day as Tan Tock, one of the joss-house men down in China- town. His scalp showed cicatrices of old burns—’’ “ Ah!” exclaimed Thornton eagerly. Taoist priest?” “ Exactly.” From his pocket the officer produced a newspaper clipping. ‘Here is an advertisement one of the boys turned in —obdviously it has some bearing on the case. We traced it. It was handed in by a China- man, late last night, for one insertion. We could get no description of the advertiser, except that he wore spectacles.”’ “ Spectacles! Then it was John Duck!” “Very likely,” said the detective dryly. Thornton spread out the clipping, which was from a “ personal ” column: cA TAN T. may’ have brazen serpent by calling for same, and paying one hundred dol- lars. JOHN D. “They remembered the Chinaman and his spectacles, by-his insistence on the spell- ing of the word ‘ brazen,’ ” said the detec- tive. ‘It’s am open and shut case, Thorn- ton! Congratulations, old boy! We'll send this guy up the river in one-two time—” Thornton looked up, frowning. “ Hold on!” he said reflectively. ‘ Let me tell you something. John Duck has a ‘brass dragon up-stairs, all right. Further, it’s a Taoist emblem, for the: Taoists go strong on the forces of nature and all that. But there are two points for you to look at very hard: ‘the spelling of that word ‘brazen,’ and thé name Tan Tock.” The detective leaned back, his eyes nar- towed upon Thornton. | . “‘Shoot,”’ he said. ‘ You’re the doctor in this business. What’s the idea?” Thornton remained silent for a moment, then spoke with slow decision. | SERPENT. 313 “Little things have impressed me with English influences on John Duck, now that [ recall them. His walking-suit, his stick, ‘his precise speech which contains many Anglicisms. This word brazen is just such an oddity. That’s point one. Now, point two is the name Tan Tock. That’s abso- lutely a Straits Settlement’s name, cap’n. The Chinamen there, you know, have been removed from China for generations; they’re almost a distinct race, in fact. I'll wager that this whole matter goes back to something in England or Singapore—the cause of the murder will be found—” _ The detective laughed heartily. ‘““My dear Thornton, what the hell do you suppose [ care about all this?” he de- manded. “ It does you credit, old man, but doesn’t affect the case. John Duck killed this Tan Tock; we’ve got that proved be- yond a doubt. The cause of the murder will come out later. .Even if it doesn’t, what matter? We have enough evidence right here,”. and he tapped the roll of human skin, “to put John Duck in the chair!” “No, you haven’t,” said Thornton blunt- ly. “ What time was that advertisement handed in?” _ “ Somewhere around ten thirty.” “It was nine when I came home and no- _ ticed the: red drip. D’you suppose he’d have cut a man’s throat up-stairs, then have gone down to Park Row and put in a personal ad to the victim? Rats! Be- sides, who’d have sent this skin to him? If he wanted it, he’d have taken it up-stairs!” - “Confound you!” exclaimed the cap- tain thoughtfully. “I believe there’s some- thing in that! Does he know you're in the service?” Thornton shook his head. At this mo- ment the front door banged. Thornton made a significant gesture, which the other man understood. John Duck had come home. It is unfortunate for the police that all . detectives do not possess the coordinated mental power of their fictional representa- tives, which bring out all facts in orderly progress. With a start of sudden recollec- tion, the captain abruptly vouchsafed an astonishing fact, “Look here! I forgot something. That Original fro ne O) C THE OHI 10 < TATE INS 2 ut ‘ a) NOO S C@ at }