Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

Listening by ng (syye5 Bertram Lebhar Aather of “Thambs Dewn,” “A Nurse Named Allenby,” ete. CHAPTER XXVI. A CLUE. auburn-haired young lady who attended to the Mercury’s switchboard beck- oned to Hemment. “I’ve got it,” she an- nounced. ‘The number you're interested in is listed under the name of Eastment— Gordon Eastment, North Lincoln Road, Fairview.” She looked at him expectant- ly. “Does that mean anything at all to your” “It may: mean a great deal. Much obliged for all your trouble, Miss Reilly. I sha’n’t forget it. Would you mind put- ting in one more call before you go home? I’d like you to get the Pennsylvania ter- minal and inquire when the next train leaves for Harrisburg. I believe there’s one at 7 A.M., but it may be possible to make an earlier connection.” “You're going out there to look up the party?” the operator guessed, as she thrust a plug into a socket. ‘‘ The very next |: the smal! hours of the morning the train, eh? Well, you certainly aren’t los- ing any time! Ain’t you going to get any sleep?” ‘“T can sleep on the train. It’s a five- hour trip. By the way, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention anything about this matter to any one—where I’ve gone, and —er—the long-distance call I received to- night. Just forget all about it, will you, Miss Reilly?” ‘“Tt’s forgotten already,” she assured him. “I always did have a wretched memory. When do you expect to be back?” “Depends on what I find at, the other end.” The reporter hesitated. ‘‘ Perhaps, on second thought, I’d better modify the request I just made of you. I want you to keep my trip a secret for a reasonable time, but in case—if forty-eight hours should elapse without your hearing from me, you might whisper that name and address to the day city editor, and give him this.” He handed the young woman a long, sealed envelope. It contained the story he had written that night. He was willing to oblige Miss Cecilie Harvey by keeping it out of the paper for a while, but in case he was walking into a trap it would be Just as well to make sure beforehand that the information he had been at such pains to glean concerning the secrets of Lestrade, Underwood and company would not be permanently suppressed. He knew that he could trust Miss Reil- ly. She had been employed by the Mer- cury for some years, and he had known her long enough to discover that she was possessec| of more than an average amount of horse sense, and that she was a living refutation of the supposition that no mem- ber of her sex can keep a secret. “You understand?” he said. “ Bailey isn’t to get this envelope, or know any- thing about my trip, until the forty-eight hours are up. And not even then, if you get word from me in the mean time. Just hold it carefully for me, and don’t let a soul see it—unless you fail to hear from me.”’ “T get you,” the auburm-haired young lady assured him. She regarded him cu- This story began in the Argosy-Allstory Weekly for January 1. 383 CoOMmiclbooks.€O©