Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

MOORS END. “ Like a fool, I took a nap among the dunes just the other side of the bridge. It was after one o’clock when I woke, but when I went down to cross over, the bridge had gone and there I was on the wrong side. Just my luck, damn it!” I agreed with him. If he had got over our three days might have been very dif- ferent, Another idea struck me. “* How did you recognize Richard Deane? He had made up so skilfully te look like his uncle that we were both deceived.”’ “‘ How long ago since you have seen your great-uncle?” he asked. ‘‘ And had you ever seen this uncle?” I was obliged to confess it had been six- teen years since I had seen Uncle Gregory, but I had never seen his nephew, at all. ‘Then he could fool you all right; I guess Shirley was wise all the time. He was the son of Gregory’s oldest brother—pretty near the same age as Gregory himself. He’d of nearly fooled me, too, only I seen him one day when he was prowling along the rock there and he didn’t think no one was around. ‘“‘ He was looking at the water and cuss- ing and he didn’t stand or act like the old man then, and I knew him at once. I guessed he was up to some mischief, because his uncle had some hold over him, and I got a boat and came as fast as I could. Then I got a clip on my head and he filled me full of dope, the big devil, but I nearly got him and I will yet.” As I looked at him I didn’t envy Richard Deane having this able-bodied vengeance following him around. ‘Well, it seems we’ve all been at cross- purposes. I thought you were in with him, and ‘when my supposed Uncle Gregory warned me against you and asked me to guard you, I thought I was doing the wisest thing. He told me to keep Miss Shirley out of the room, too. I wonder just why.” My face felt red as I recalled the way I had kept her out, and the clever manner in » which I had been tricked. It was begin- ning to dawn on me that I had been con- siderable of a fool, and Clinch’s words were not reassuring. ‘“‘ Most likely he was afraid she’d give the thing away at the last and squeal on ~669 him to me. She’s a mighty square little kid and not used to his ways.” “* Clinch,” I said earnestly, “ I’m a good friend of hers, and I believe you are, too. Will you tell me honestly if you think she was in this scheme of shutting up Mr. Deane and getting his money? It’s very Important for me to know.” He looked at me with his sharp little eyes, into which came presently a knowing _ twinkle. “I’m on,” he drawled. “I don’t blame you, either. Shirley’s a fine girl, and a girl with spirit. She’d make a fine pal in any sort of game. “Not,” he added quickly, as my face grew stormy, ‘that she’d stand for any crooked business. Ain’t I told yer she wouldn’t hold with her father’s ideas and got out and left him? Her mother was a darned fine sort, too, and she sure was mighty good to me. Never treated me like dirt the way he did.” “But you haven’t answered my ques- tion—was she in this?” ‘‘ She must have been: to have gone right ‘off to meet him,” he protested. “‘ But she came here for an entirely dif- ferent purpose.” I explained briefly about my uncle’s money, and his having sent for her. He listened attentively. “Gee, that’s another kinda dog! No, she didn’t come to meet him, then. He must have found out her plans and come to meet her. Thought he could make her work.in along with him by threatening to queer up her game. ’cause then she’d do what he wanted. That sounds more like it, don’t it?” I was forced to confess it did. “But I don’t think she would agree to injuring Uncle Gregory, in any case,’ I in- sisted. “ He probably told her he wasn’t hurting the old man’”—Clinch had heard the whole story from Peter, evidently—“ only scarin’ him, and he’d tip her off in time, so she could find him and get all the credit.” Again, I was reluctantly forced to admit that this theory sounded plausible. Only, again, why had she left the note on the safe . warning that “‘ he ”’ was here when she must have known that her father had seen Clinch THE OHIO STATE UGOL REE OOO