Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

crazy. awful. If you clamp down. en. me I’m gone. Give me another week, and. lll pay in. full. Ronalds said he would let me in on a deal that would more than clear me.” “The date on that note is plain,,and you can. read,” replied. Forsythe coldly. ‘“ You either pay me to-day or [ll file my claim.” “You. know what will. happen to me then.”” “ What difference does that make to me?” “ None to you, but everything to me. It means I will be. discharged, and I'll have the devil’s own time finding. another place without a recommendation. the kidi will die. and give me seven days more! double. interest.” “ No,”’ answered Forsythe impassively. He knew to. the dollar the salary earned Show that you are human I'll pay you by the bookkeeper, and also: the: exemption the law allowed married men. Clearwater had reached the limit. “You pay me before you leave to-night or take the consequences,”’ he added. The bookkeeper begged, but Forsythe was. obdurate. Family troubles were not as significant to him as his bank ac- Trembling, Clearwater put on. his Forsythe knew his er- count. coat and went out. rand—he would seek a loan. elsewhere. If ° he succeeded, well and good. If not—the law protected: creditors.. The hands of the clock. swept the dial slowly and. Forsythe closed his day’s work. Faxon still sat im his chair, his cold eyes on the blackboard, his skinny hands over his.sharp knees.. Forsythe noticed him and wondered why he stayed so long after his usual leaving time. But Faxon was privi- leged, and if necessary the office would be kept open to suit his convenience. Clearwater, aged in the brief interval of absence, crept in and went to his books ' without a word. Forsythe smiled. Clear+ water was in Browne’s confidence even more ‘than he, and with Clearwater gone— He stepped over to the desk. | ‘“ Can you pay me?” “No,” was the listless answer.. Forsythe glanced at the clock. He would 7A BIG GAME. My expenses have been something It means my family will be thrown out of our flat and 18% just have time to cbtain the garnishee be- fore the courts closed. In twenty minutes he was back in. his place. “ Did you do it?” asked. Clearwater, per- spiration dotting, his forehead. “Yes,’”’ answered Forsythe, busying him- self with the papers: on: his. desk. Clearwater turned to his ledger. The office was silent. Suddenly an ink. blot marred the neat page. | : “How long have you been with this. firm?” asked: a voice, and Forsythe looked up almost startled. Faxon was standing. at the rail! “Tam in my fourth year now, sir,” an- swered Forsythe steadily, though a: ‘hum-. ming sounded in: his brain. _ Faxon did not answer, but strode out. “ DPve-won, I’ve won!’ chanted something in Forsythe’s being and this chanting con- tinued until he heard the tinkle of glass, fol-. lowed by the sound of something soft slith- ering to the floor and a thump. as a hard. object came in. contact with the boards. The high stool of Clearwater was empty. Beside his. body was a bottle, a . bottle, yet large enough to hold the: potent liquid to destroy a human life. John Forsythe had lost his first loan. CHAPTER XIII. TRAPPED! HE investigation set in progress by _ ‘Thomas Fyske as soon as the body of Clearwater was removed relieved John Forsythe of any apparent connection with the death of the bookkeeper. Irregularities were found in Clearwater’s accounts. The peculations covered a period. of months, though the total amount. taken was a little less: than five hundred dollars. Forsythe contributed to the collection for flowers—he couldn’t do otherwise and’ save his face as the elder Fyske attended to the matter personally—though he regretted the dollar he was-forced to donate. Clearwater had cheated him and there was absolutely no recourse. To the bookkeeper’s wife and child he gave not the slightest thought. ‘ Poor fellow, poor fellow!’” mouthed the venerable Fyske, working his hands beneath COMmicloooe