Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

828 Gregory was an old timer in the man hunting business. Therefore he lost no time in going over the ground, searching for possible objects of interest. Beneath the window he found the knife Fleming had dropped. The shaft of white light from his electric torch disclosed a pool of blood near a building and close at hand an auto- matic pistol. The weapon had not been discharged. He showed them to the wounded man with the terse query, ‘‘ These yours?”’ Fleming nodded. knife for years.” ‘“ Ah, yes, how’d you break the point of the knife off?” ‘Don’t remember!” A took of suspicion flashed in his eyes and instantly he refused to talk. While the doctor was binding up a bad wound, Gregory called his deputy into an adjoining room and placed the knife on the table. ‘‘ You heard Fleming admit the knife was his? Very well.” From his billbook he took a small bit of folded paper, tied with thread. This he opened and a fine bit of steel dropped to the table. Gregory placed the steel against the point of the knife. It fitted perfectly. ‘‘ There’s the broken point to Fleming’s knife and the broken bit was found embedded in Jen- nings’s rib at the coroner’s autopsy. I guess, Mac, that clears up the Jennings case, eh? I shall take the necessary steps to push the charge immediately.” “It looks that way, sir, but there are a number of other things to be cleared up and with your permission, Ill go ahead. I have an idea that Fleming will plead not guilty and there’s a chance that he zs not guilty.” “Don’t forget two things. Fleming threatened never to be taken alive and hurled the defiance in open court. Secondly, Jennings was on his way to arrest Fleming when he was killed.” ‘Good circumstantial evidence, Gregory, and if f were on a jury I’d put two and two together and find it made four no daqubt, but I’d like to investigate a bit.” ‘‘ Certainly, go ahead.” MacGregor gathered his equipment to- gether and kept from sight as long as the ‘* Carried the gun and ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, doctor remained. His week in bed was far from over, but he rather hoped in the gen- eral excitement it would be forgotten. He found a chance to talk with Fleming alone several minutes later. ‘So they’re going to hang the Jennings murder on me?” said the man bitterly, when MacGregor had outlined the situation. ‘“ Well, it looks bad. No, I don’t know who killed him. I don’t care much. If they don't get me on one thing, it’ll be on another.” ‘JT want to find Edith!” ‘“She’s probably dead by now. She’d die by her own hand, you see she’s that kind. If you’d have given me my freedom I’d have avenged her, but you -didn’t.” ‘““T want to find her!”. persisted Miac- Gregor. ‘If she is dead I want to deal with the responsible party.” His eyes nar- rowed as he added: “ in my own way.” ‘Then find Limpy Ford!” ‘* Did he kill Jennings?” demanded Mac; Gregor unexpectedly. ‘“How do I know? I didn’t kill him and I don’t care how much evidence you’ve got against me. What’s more I'll never hang! That’s a disgrace and I’ve got— aw, what’s the use of chewing the fat?” ‘Want an attorney?” ‘No. I can say I’m not guilty as well as an attorney can and I can say it cheaper. Don’t talk any more. My wound hurts all over. Watch out for Limpy. He'll most likely find you before you find him. And another thing—no, guess I won’t talk any more.” Nor would he talk. For some reason he crawled into a shell of silence. Reluctantly MacGregor departed, but he returned five minutes later. ‘“‘ One more question, Flem- ing; you don’t happen to know who took my gasboat, and why?” ‘Yes, I know who took it and why, but don’t bother with that now. Limpy will keep your hands full and the gasboat has nothing to do with it. Tell the doctor to come in quick, I feel queer inside.” MacGregor hurried to the room below where the doctor and marshal were chatting. Even as they responded to MacGregor’s call, the night was made hideous by a cry from the room above. The three men COMmMiCoool (©