Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 2, 1922 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

The man with the cap took it off, turned it in his hands with a scowl that softened to a smile, and a smile that broadened to a grin, and at last to a deep, harsh chuckle. “ By God,” he concluded, “ you are cool, partner. Maybe you'll tell me where you’ve worked and what names you’ve worked un- der; and where did you first get the dope on me?” Now Kain was a man who seldom smiled, but at these three questions in close volley a twinkle came in his eyes and remained there as long as the flash of a lantern swing- ing far off down some forest path. “ All right,” nodded Bud Gainer. “ Of course you don’t have to talk, but why does one of the profession like you want to pull a has-been like this fake hold-up?” “The best plays are the ones which have been on the stage the longest,” said Kain. “ An old trick like this wouldn’t work with a small-town man, but the gentleman in the gray overcoat is himself so clever that he doesn’t suspect others of being trite.” “ Fancy again,” growled Bud Gainer un- easily, “ and a bit too damned fancy to suit a plain man like me; but I begin to get your drift and I guess you’ve got the dope.” “In the meantime it’s close to train time, and you’d better go to the station to meet your man.” “ Right; but it’s windy out and there’s a Jong job ahead. Got a drink handy?” “ By all means,” nodded Kain, and taking from the sideboard a flask of handsome pro- portions together with a glass and a siphon, he placed them before his guest. “Fancy again,” said Bud Gainer scorn- fully, pushing the siphon away. “ but I take mine straight.” “ A good Scotch habit,” remarked Kain. ‘¢ And where’s yours?”’ “ Tt’s exactly an hour earlier than I ever start drinking, but if you wish—” And he filled a glass with seltzer. ‘“Well, booze don’t make money,” said Bud Gainer, “ but I’d rather be happy than rich.” He flashed a glance of both curiosity and contempt toward Kain and added: “ Here’s in your eye, partner.” “Your very good health,” said Kain gravely, and he drank with the thief. Bud Gainer started to leave, but with his KAIN. hand on the knob of the half-opened door he turned again. “ What I'd like to know,” he asked earn- estly, “is: was you born this way or did you make yourself over?” The glance of Kain thrust in that sudden, prying way toward the criminal. He answered in a voice even lower than usual: ‘“‘ Whatever I may be I was made to be—by force of circumstances.” “Seems to me,” chuckled Gainer, “ that I’ve heard that before.” But since the eye of Kain once more was looking carelessly, almost blankly, beyond his guest, the thief closed the door with a bang and disappeared into the windy night. Yet Kain remained unmoving for a ong moment, the half-emptied glass of seltzer still in his hand. “ By force of circumstance?” he repeated, half in query, and then with a strong grav- ity: “So help me God!” Afterward, as if irritated to find himself still in this somber mood, he shrugged his shoulders mad dismissed the emotion with instant ease. He was humming when he set about his Tuxedo for street clothes. Ad “moments later, clad in’a rough, light-colored tweed which exagger- - ated his tanned skin, he in turn passed the door and ventured into the night. CHAPTER IE. HE WALKS IN THE NIGHT. T was one of those rare times in May when the wind tugs strongly at coats and snatches hats down the street, yet the air is balmy, and ts soft touches on the face lighten the heart with a vague happiness. As he stepped from his garden to the street, Kai paused a moment, facing direct- ly into the gale, and by degrees his glance rose to Albemarle Heights, from no part of the city more imposing than from Kain’s house. There were not many lights in the mansions which ridged the Heights, which made their black outliries more impressive against the dull steel-gray of the sky. In particular one house held the atten- tion of Kain, for it stood om the greatest elevation of Albemarle Heights and it was Com ehooks;com —