Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

THE DEVIL’S RIDDLE. ATT ‘“*T won’t let you know it if I do,” she laughed as-she stepped into the elevator. Staring out into the street far below her window, Esther went over the events of the past five years. It all seemed vague and unreal. That time in the little shack in Montana with Jim seemed like a dream. Then there. were those awful years on the road with success far away. How she had wanted to wear expensive clothes and live in soft places and know people of refine- ment? They were coming to her at last, and she felt cold. No elation, no triumph warmed her. There came a tap on the door. ‘“* Who is it?” she called. “ [—Maida Ayers,” a deep feminine voice answered. Esther ran to the door joyfully and opened it, then fell back in surprise as the woman appeared in the opening. A wild light in eyes that looked out of a haggard face made her a startling figure, tall and gaunt in the doorway. “T’ve quit the dope,” she hissed. ‘“ Do you hear me? I’ve quit!” ‘“‘Oh, Miss Ayers!” gasped Esther. ‘“And I want to do murder!” Maida went on tensely. She stepped inside, closed the door, and stood with her back against it. Involuntarily, Esther retreated into the — room. “ Oh, I’m not going to hurt you,” Maida said grimly; “ but I may kill myself before morning. I’ve been walking the streets all evening.” “T thought—Ma said—” began Esther. “T told her,” the woman broke in. “I didn’t want to see Burt again. Is there anything between you and him?” she asked suddenly, advancing toward Esther. “No. Of course not.” “TJ didn’t think so; but I wanted to know. That devil—she’s probably tired. of him and—” She hesitated and seem to forget what she had started to say. “ Won’t you sit down, Miss Ayers?” Esther motioned toward a seat. “I couldn’t sit down if I knew I’d go to the chair if I didn’t. Where was I? Oh, yes, I came here for two reasons. Two? Yes, two. I wanted to tell you not to let that devil get you as she has got me. Some day I’m going to kill her; but not yet. Death is relief. She has got to suffer first. The other thing I came for was to ask you if you would deliver a message for me to Burty.” ‘* Of course I will.” Esther stood behind a chair, pale and nervous. The woman seemed on the ragged edges of desperation. At any minute her reason might snap. “Don’t you think you are wrong to quit short off like that?” the girl asked. “No; it’s the only way to quit any- thing. I made up my mind this afternoon. I haven’t had a thing in seven hours.” “But you can’t hold up,” protested Esther. ‘“‘ The strain on your nervous sys- tem is too great. You can’t stand it here where it is to be had. You ought to go awiy to some big ranch miles from a town, or any place where you can’t get it. The air would help you, too.” “TI don’t know any such place,” replied Maida. ““I know the very place,” said Esther eagerly. ‘Sun River Valley, Montana— seventy-five miles from Great Falls. Ihave a friend there who could get you a place to board, and he would do it gladly.” “ Who is he?” “ Sam Tuttle.” “T’ll go. But I’ve got to work first. I'll get a job, go on the road for a while, and get a little bank-roll; then I’ll go. What’s his address?” Esther started toward her desk, and Maida stopped her. ‘You see this?”’ the woman drew a little bottle out of her purse. ‘“ The solution of everything is in that. I’d have used it long ago, but I’ve got to live to see Belle Benton suffer.” “What is it?” asked Esther, her eyes dilated in horror. ‘* Kick-off drops,’’ whispered the other, as though it were a sweet morsel under her tongue. ‘I keep it ready all the time.” Esther stared at the little bottle in horrid fascination. ‘“‘If I were to take it now,” the woman smiled grimly, “I’d be gone before you could get help.” Her eyes fairly caressed the bottle. DOOKS > (C(O) (C(O) mM