Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 2, 1922 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

582 “Why don’t you tell the inspector all you know and codperate with him.” “Ym perfectly willing to, Lorraine, in all that immediately concerns the subject we are discussing. The inspector refuses to codperate, however, since he will not permit me to draw the line between what I know to be pertinent and what is not.” “Oh, you men!”’ exclaimed Lorraine, per- plexed. She left the room. “What do you think about Nick telling Riggs he was from the telephone company?” asked Corson. Fenwick smiled. “T’ve been thinking about that,” he ad- mitted. ‘“‘ Of course, it was an explanation that Riggs would be very likely to accept, in view of recent occurrences, and Nick un- doubtedly knew this. On the other hand the statement may warrant further investi- gation. Seth, I’m going to leave it to you to discover whether or not Nick is or ever was a telephone man. Get busy.” “ Right,”’ assented Seth, who had listened intently to the entire conversation. “ As it says in the fifth chapter of Ezra, verse fif- teen: ‘Search may be made in the book of the records.’ I'll start right away.” “ And, Seth,” continued Fenwick as the little man started from the room, “ tell that Riverside wire chief to get busy on the volt- meter test if he hasn’t already done so.” “Very well,” agreed Boyden. “Where does Boyden have to go?” queried Corson. “ Riverside central office on West Eighty- Ninth Street first,” advised Fenwick. “Then he may have to go to the Central Testing Bureau on West Fifty-Eighth Street, and perhaps to the headquarters building on Dey Street.” “Perhaps Mr. King would drive him down in the car,” suggested the inspector. “It would save a lot of time.” “ Gladly,”’ consented King. “Tf you’ll come back here you may be able to assist me,”’ Corson advised. “Never fear,’ responded the young financier. ‘I'll be back. I haven’t the slightest reason for running away.” “A millionaire can’t run away, Mr. King.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘““Oh, so you know that, too, do you?” smiled King, understandingly, as he left with Boyden. As the pair left the house Fenwick quick- ly turned to Corson. “You wanted to get rid of King,” he ac- cused. ‘‘ Why?” ‘““T wanted to talk to you about him. We rode down from the Grand Central in his car. We were crowded; it’s one of those speed buggies. Nick sat on my knee and Boyden rode on the running board, while King drove. Nick had an excellent oppor- tunity to whisper to King, and took advan- tage of it. King’s manner changed from that moment, and while he endeavored to assume his usual attitude of bored indiffer- ence, I could see that he was worried. I’d give anything to know what Nick said to him.” “ Interesting,” commented Fenwick, non- commitally. Corson regarded him with disgust. “Ts that all you have to say?” he de- manded. ‘“That’s all,” smiled Charlie. ‘I’m not going to venture the opinion that King is one of the voices or is directing them. I’m not going to make a similar statement re- garding Nick, and I’m quite sure neither of them are implicated in Pendleton Kirke’s death. You’ve had too many theories, in- spector, and have had to give each one up in turn as you adopted a new one. My theory has assumed shape very slowly, but I still find it tenable, and I mean to stick to it.” “When you find it untenable, Charlie, I’m going to attempt to dicker with the voices, and I’ll wager I make an arrest.” ‘“* Good enough!”’ agreed Charlie. “‘ Don’t attempt it, however, until my theory is un- tenable. In the meantime, you ought to de- vote all your time to solving the mystery of Pendleton Kirke’s death.” Corson glared at him half savagely. “You want me to ask you outright how that trick was pulled,” he growled. ‘ Well, I’m not going to do it. If you could find out, so can]. I’m going back to Newtown. When King returns tell him to join me at Kirke’s place. So-long.” TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK. Gomichbooks;com