Argosy All-Story Weekly — "The Purple Limited" — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

712 b a servant, and to pretend that she was the Crevelings’ cook. You know the rest, sir. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw the way Mrs. Creveling took the news, and how possessed she was to find out who had shot her husband; but I might- have known she would be that way, she was so set on punishing Ilsa. I haven’t found out yet who the man was that had supper with Mr. Creveling and then killed him, but I’ve still those letters to hold over Mrs. Creveling’s head, only now it won’t be any use.” “Nor any need, I hope,’ McCarty re- marked. ‘‘ Where did you hide those let- ters, Hill?” The valet hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then threw out his hands in a gesture of surrender. “In a niche in the upper hall near r Mr. Creveling’s door there’s a teakwood stand with one of those queer Chinese vases on it that he was always so crazy about. Lift off the vase, sir, and you’ll see that the lit- tle marble slab that’s set in the top of the stand is loose; the letters are under that.” “Well.” McCarty rose. “I’m going now ‘to see about getting you out of here and over to headquarters where your wife | its ample pages before him. Then as the is waiting to see you. We'll have to hold her—you understand that, of course, for she wouldn’t be admitted to bail again even if it should drop from the skies a second time; but the inspector will see that things are made as easy as possible for her, and. we'll do all we can to have her trial put off. I won’t go back on my promise, Hill. I’m going to do my best to dig up some evidence that will kill that indictment.” An hour later he presented himself at the Creveling house, and his eyes twinkled at the austerity of Rollins’s bow. “If you wish to see Mrs. Creveling, sir, the doctor says that she is not to be dis- turbed, even by the police,” that worthy announced with dignity. ‘“ ’E says ’e’ll be responsible to the authorities, sir.” “ That’s all right. I didn’t come to,see her,” McCarty responded, adding slyly: “‘ Surprised you, didn’t it, Rollins, that ar- rest we made yesterday?” ' “Tam not surprised at anything the po- lice does, sir,” Rollins remarked. “ From ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the way this case ’as been ’andled, it wouldn’t amaze me if Sarah or me was to be took up next!” McCarty chuckled. “Then you don’t think that Hill shot Mr. Creveling? No more do I, but orders aré orders! Is Mr. Alexander here?” “Not yet, sir.” Rollins unbent a trifle. ‘FE, telephoned that.’e would be ’ere in an hour, and ’e must consult with Mrs. Crev- eling; ’e wouldn’t take no for an answer.” The butler hesitated somewhat uncer- tainly and McCarty asked: “‘ Did he say what he wanted to see her about, Rollins?” “Well, sir, ’e did mention something about that other gentleman that was called in; Mr. Terhune. ’E was so excited that I couldn’t rightly make out what ’e meant, but ’is language to me was most unusual: shocking, I’d call it, in a man of ’is years! I gathered that ’e didn’t regard Mr. Ter- hune very ’ighly, and wanted ’im off the case.” McCarty nodded appreciatively. ‘““T shouldn’t wonder. I'll wait here for Mr. Alexander.” He seated himself in the nearest chair, and ostentatiously pulling a newspaper from his coat pocket, he spread butler still lingered, he added: “ Don’t let me be keeping you from your work, -Rol-. lins.” The other opened his lips to speak, but thought better of it, and with a nod retired to the pantry. McCarty waited for a few moments, then tossed his paper aside and crossing the hall with noiseless tread he gently closed the door through which Rol- | lins had passed, and turning, crept up the main stairway. There in the hall by Creveling’s door, upon its stand of carved black wood, stood a squat, bulging vase upon which a gro- tesque dragon in dull red and gold ap- peared to be endlessly chasing his own tail. From behind the closed door leading to Mrs. Creveling’s apartments across the hall came the murmur of feminine voices, and McCarty wasted no time in admira~ tion of the specimen of ancient art. Un- ceremoniously lifting the vase off the stand he placed it on the rug and examined the (C(O) nn) (C 6)(0)©) KS (C(O) nn