Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

860 ‘You are mistaken. They interest me tremendously. For the man who has just come to his untimely death in the corridor is the father of the girl whose secret busi- ness you are furthering—” ‘“‘W-what are you saying?” Shoreham was pale to the lips. ‘* Hugh Cavendish dead!” “Violently dead—under highly suspi- cious circumstances.” “Great God!” murmured the man. A dead silence ensued. He seemed try- ing to grasp the bomblike statement as a fact. He kept moistening his lips. “No wonder I was forgotten!” he ob- served dully. His mind began to clear again. “ But terrible and incredible as this tragedy is, what has my business to do with the death of Hugh Cavendish?” ‘Was your business known to Mr. Cav- endish? Was he advised that Miss Doro- thy was about to transfer some of the prop- erty inherited from her mother to a name- less medium?” “ Concerning that I do not know.” “What do you think?” “‘T prefer not to say.” ‘‘ When did Miss Dorothy set in motion this act?” ‘Three days ago. She has always looked upon me as a sort of a great uncle. She came to me seeking for my secret help.” ‘* Doesn’t her very desire for secrecy seem to prove that her purported act was un- known to her father?” ‘* Perhaps.” ‘Did she give any reason for this move of hers?” ‘“None. I—I even presumed to inquire into her reason. But she perfunctorily froze the questions. She declared that she was of age—as she is— and that I had oftentimes told her that if I could be of any service to call on me. I am a man of my word. I was forced to act for her. “I began to think that perhaps I could manage the affair more cautiously and more discriminatingly than some outsider. For she declared that she would go to some un- known lawvers and get them to act for her. That settled it.” “Did you arrange to come here this morning?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ““T did.” “When did you make your appoint- ment?” “The same morning when she was in my office, three days ago.” ‘““Did Miss Dorothy plan to be here, too?” “Why, of course.” His voice was sur- prised. ‘‘ Her signature would naturally be necessary on the deeds of transfer.”’ “What time was she to come?” ‘Any time between eleven thirty and twelve.” “* When did you arrive?” *‘ At eleven thirty.” “Was that the time of your appoint- ment ” He nodded. “ Didn’t you begin to think it was curi- ous that Miss Dorothy hadn’t put in an appearance?” “Why, no. To tell the truth, I had for- gotten all about it. That is, I didn’t know but perhaps she had seen Mr. Kent come out and was talking with him somewhere, although I couldn’t see why.” ““ So,” mused Nancy, ‘‘ Miss Dorothy Cavendish was to come here without fail to sign the papers.” “Certainly. Of course, I understand now why she hasn’t come. What a dread- ful shock awaited the poor girl here!” Nancy ignored this remark. Instead she questioned, ‘‘ Did the girl’s aunt, Miss Greenwood, know that her niece intended to transfer some of her mother’s property to this Mlle. Mignonne?” ‘Miss Dorothy did not say so.” “What do you think?” “‘T really could not say.” “Who is Mile. Mignonne?”’ ‘“‘T have no idea.” There was no deny- ing the truth of these words. “Then she is not a friend or an ac- quaintance of the family?” “Certainly not! At least not to my knowledge.” Scathing scorn was in the voice. ‘¢ She has never been to the house, or her affairs even remotely connected with those of the Cavendish’s?” “ Not that I am aware of.” “Don’t you think it very strange that COMmiclboo (©