Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

. for the day. TA2 sand five hundred dollars! The sum would not impoverish him, but it was money ex- pended for something that would not bring a tangible return. Nothing could be done— he would have to submit to this blackmail. Any untoward move he mght make would only involve him more deeply. Luckily he _had called in enough loans so this amount — was available at the bank. They would squander the dollars he had accumulated. by such hard work and sacri- fice! The thought nauseated him still more. The haggard trio left the house shortly after eight o’clock the next morning, For- | ‘ sythe not daring to shave for fear they would take advantage of the slightest re- laxation in his vigilance. Without speaking the three rode down on the Elevated. Together they went to. the cage of the paying teller who knew Forsythe well, and at this window Forsythe filled out a counter check asking that the money be paid in large bills. Outside he handed these to Marie Riggers and Walters. gave him the camera.. Then John Forsythe breathed normally once more. - “ Get out of my sight before I call the police,” he commanded, and in spite of themselves, Marie and Ralph slunk away. Forsvthe ran toward the offices of Fyske, Fyske & Browne. If he was not delayed he would have time to’ shave and make: himself presentable before business opened 4 CHAPTER XIV. A SHOCK FOR FORSYTHE. SHORT distance from the bank Marie recovered her poise and slipped her | arm through Ralph’s. - ‘“ We've won!” she exulted. us at least a part of the debt he owes us. - Two thousand five hundred seeds—I’ll bet there’s a drop of his heart’s blood on every : dollar.” Walters did not reply. A strange look was in his eyes. He turned toward the lake. “Where do you think you're going, Ralph?” demanded the girl, shaking his arm. ‘Pull down vour vest; vou’re walk- ing in your sleep.” “= -up all night. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, “I want to think. Let’s go to a place a little more quiet. Somewhere we can see trees and grass. I’m dirty sick of these pavements.” Through State Street crowds they walked; crossed Wabash Avenue; found their way through Michigan Boulevard’s maze of wheels, among which were occa- sional automobiles, and finally sat down on a bench in Grant Park. All the way Wal- ters was silent. oo Marie was also. She could not under- stand what had come over her companion. Now that they had attained their objective she expected a wild celebration. the biggest stake they had ever won safe in her possession, he was gloomy and ab- stracted. Apprehensively she felt the bulge in her stocking. It was still there, and in her mind she could see the two one thou- sand and the five one hundred dollar bills. But with “A drink would perk you up, Ralph,” . she said at last. ‘“ You're all in from sitting I’m not feeling right pert myself.” ‘ ‘“ Not just now, Marie.” Something in his tone made her look at him sharply. “Worrying about a comeback, old pal?” ‘She asked, slipping her arm through his and patting his hand. “ Well, get it off your chest. There can’t anything happen; we’ve sewed him up too tight. You can bet that when John Forsythe lets loose of any of his ‘coin he’s beat and beat good.” Walters looked out over the lake. “Come on now, be a good sport,” the girl insisted. “ Let’s go over to Tony’s, tip over a couple of high ones and then hit the hay until to-night... And to-night—man, we'll put some red into the color of this burg then. Why, we’ve got a forttne and it only took us one night to-get it. And we’ve trimmed that loan. shark good and we’re both clean.” ‘* Are we, Marie?” asked Walters, a tense- ness in his voice. . “ Certainly. As I said, there can’t be a comeback. Forsythe hasn’t a thing on us even if he should squawk. I’d like to see his face when he opens that camera and finds it empty. That was a.swell touch, Ralph. old boy. That picture was the finishing COMIICLoOo Cc CO