Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

554 We've been having ’em for the last fifteen years or more over one thing or another. If he’s been, done in as you say, I’m inex- pressibly shocked and grieved te hear it, as the rest of our crowd will be, for he was the best of good fellows, even if he did get out of bounds occasionally; but I know no more about his death than you do—not half as much, | fancy.” “Just what do you mean by ‘out of bounds,’ Mr. Waverley?” McCarty ig- nored the hint to go, and stood his ground firmly. “If your informant gave you the gist of our conversation on the night of the sup- posed quarrel, you ought to be able to figure that out for yourself.” The thick lips parted in an unpleasant smile. “ You can’t expect a Jeopard to change his spots altogether, you know. Not that ’Gene wasn’t genuinely fond of his wife, but he. always had an eye for a pretty woman. I'd heard that he was going it a bit strong over a new case, and for Mrs. Creveling’s sake I thought I’d try to pull him up before it came to.her ears. That’s how her name was dragged into the discussion.”’ “And the lady in the case?” “TJ can’t tell you her name because I I don’t know it, but I wouldn’t if I did!” Waverley snapped. ‘“ You fellows go too far! I’m willing to meet you half-way, and I’m a::: course, to help you find out who shot Creveling, but J’m damned if I would drag in the name of any woman, especially in the case of a mere indiscretion like this.” ‘““How do you know it was a mere in- _ discretion?”” McCarty demanded quickly. “TY knew Creveling.”’ The reply was terse. ‘He'd have every art dealer and colleetor of antiques searching for months for a certain Ming vase or ancient prayer- rug, and when he secured it he scarcely gave it a second glance. It was the same with beautiful women; he’d sit at their feet as long as they were indifferent, but if they gave the first sign of awakened interest— good night!” “You are sure, then, that this affair hasn’t reached the ears of his wife?” ‘Qf course it hasn’t!’” Waverley ex- claimed hurriedly. ‘She has always be- - narylimously. ‘uus to do all in my power, of, pee ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. lieved in him implicitly; that’s why I wanted him to call a halt now.” “Well, Mr. Waverley, I won’t trouble you any further if you’ve no objections to me calling up Mr. Venner, just as a matter of form, and verifying your statement.” McCarty moved tentatively toward the telephone set in the wall. Waverley smiled again, and waved to- ward the instrument. “Ga as far as you like,” he invited mag: “Venner’s number is Hud- son 4-0-5-2.” McCarty repeated it into the phone, and after a brief interval a deep voice growled at him over the wire: ‘‘ Hello! What is it?” “TI want to speak to Mr. Venner.” “You're talking to him now, Who are : Mr. Douglas Waverley told me that I could reach him at your rooms,” McCarty said cautiously, “Well, you can’t,” the voice responded, “He’s gone; left about an hour ago.” “He was at that little party of yours last night?” “Yes. Who the devil are you?” McCarty hung up the receiver and turned to find Waverley still smiling de- risively at him as he drew a cigarette from a diamond-incrusted case and then prof- fered. it. | ‘“ Smoke?” he suggested. ‘I hope you’re satisied now, my man. Of course, I don’t want to be hauled into the lime-light of a murder case, but for Creveling’s sake I’d be glad to help you if T could.” McCarty shook his head at the offer of the cigarette. An air of preoccupation seemed suddenly to have settled upon him, and he replied absently: “Yes, sir, I’m satisfied. Sorry to have troubled you, but in a case like this we’ve got to look into every stray bit of infor- mation that comes our way. Good morn- Ing, sir.” Once outside the door, he made his way toward the elevator with a dazed sense of unreality. Could he have seen aright, and if sq was there any special significance in what he had beheld? Theré had been nine jewels in that flat oblong of gold, four i >THE OHIO SATE | NEES IOOKS