Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

546 supper party at my _ brother’s. you. ‘““T don’t remember your name, but your face is quite familiar,” she said. “My name is Creigh,” he told her. “TI had the pleasure of meeting you once at a Reggie Creigh—he’s the real ‘ lad of the village’ in our family.” “Oh, of course—of course,” Miss Bates murmured. Then she asked: ‘“‘ What are you doing here, Mr. Creigh?” He answered glibly: ‘“‘ Somebody told me I could get a little ‘ coke’ at this place, but I’m wondering if they’ll deliver the goods without an introduction.” Rosslyn Bates hesitated; then she ex- claimed: ‘Don’t tell me it’s for your- self!” “Oh, no—no! Not at all. It’s for my dog. He’s getting old, and I’ve got to pull out one of his teeth. The brute might bite me if I operated on him in cold blood.” “ You beautiful liar!” ‘“T know I’m a liar, but this is the first time any one has ever called me beautiful,” said Jimmy. ‘“‘ Look here, Miss Bates— you don’t know me at all, and I don’t know There’s no occasion for us to trust each other, but I’m going to ask a favor of you.” “ Dear me, you do sound exciting!” the woman exclaimed. ‘‘ What can it be, Mr. Creigh?”’ * Are you in a hurry—going anywhere?” “ Not until considerably later. I’m in that Moonlight Cabaret show at the Duch- ess Club. thirty.” Jimmy consulted his watch. “Then you can spare me an hour?” he hazarded. ““ What’s the game?” “T’m not sure. But come along. Where can we talk quietly?” Miss Bates shrugged her shoulders. “There’s no such thing where I’m con- cerned. I’m too well known. What I mean is, if you don’t want to be conspicu- I don’t go on until eleven ous. However, I am at your disposal.” In a couple of minutes they were back in Holborn. An old inn, now a public-house with eating-rooms attached, suggested itself ‘as a likely spot for that quiet talk Jimmy wanted. He asked Rosslyn Bates if she ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. would come in and have something, and they found a corner table in the oak tavern room, which at this hour boasted few cus- tomers. Miss Bates said she would be very glad for a few sandwiches and a small bottle of sparkling wine. Jimmy gave the order which included ginger beer for himself. ** Now what is it?” she asked. “ Well, you wanted to know what I was doing in sweet scented Charpen Street, and now I’m going to ask you. the same ques- tion.” “Frankly, it’s none of your business,” the woman retorted with her broad, engag- ing smile. He looked at her closely. She might be getting a bit passée, but she was a genius in her way, and she did not have the appear- ance of being a drug fiend. “ Sorry,” said Jimmy. “My dear man, I went to get some co- caine, if you must know.” ““T wonder if you’re a beautiful liar?” Jimmy Creigh rejoined. ‘ Well, I'll tell you what I really went for. Do you read the newspapers, Miss Bates? I mean the murders?” “Yes, I do,” she said tersely. * Well, I was strolling around Charpen Street this evening to see if by any chance I might happen to run into a man named Norwich—a fellow who was once at school with me.” “Good heavens!” Rosslyn Bates ex- claimed. ‘‘ Bruce Norwich?—that inde- scribable little pest!” “‘T think you’ve managed to describe him quite accurately. .Did you see that he’s wanted by the police?” ‘““I saw it in the papers this evening, That’s why I—” she checked herself ab- ruptly. “ Look here, Mr. Creigh, as you say, we don’t know each other, but I used to know your brother fairly well and Reggie was one of the best. I’ll trust you if you’ll trust me.”’ “Tt’s a bargain,” Jimmy agreed, wonder- ing if he were being wise or stupid. “Thank you. Well, I knew Alma Stern. I knew her years ago. She was older than she looked, poor thing. We were kiddies together, both trained as circus acrobats, but I got out of it and went on the halls, COMME KOOKS (EO)