Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

842 key is at th’ desk. He deposited some mon- ey and some tickets in the safe this after- noon. He left right after that and hasn’t been heard of since.” Salles nodded and Eddie grinnec. Once more he was vindicated, the truth of his statements proved. All at once this inter- view on which the captain had _ insisted seemed very silly, a useless rehash of facts already established. ‘“‘There’s a pretty good reason why I haven’t been back to my hotel,” he re- marked. The captain frowned. Apparently he was none too well pleased with Eddie’s amused expression. “Sure. And while you’re about it, you might as well suggest as good a one for Blumefeldt’s givin’ you that bill.” Eddie stared. His grin faded. The trouble with this whole affair was that just as everything seemed perfectly all right, some other consideration kept bobbing up in official minds. All at once he felt vague- ly troubled—that exasperation which had flamed in his breast during his searching and examination earlier in the day returned in a measure upon him. What was the matter with these men? What were they driving at? What did Salles have in mind? But—Salles seemed waiting for an answer. He actually had the appearance of expect- ing Eddie to explain. “ Why- I—I don’t know,” he confessed with a markedly uncomfortable feeling. “ If it had been counterfeit it wouldn’t have mattered--he might just have wanted to cet rid of it, in case he was really captured, but—you say it’s genuine and—” “It sounds crazy don’t it?” Salles leaned forward a trifle. His voice was suddenly eruff. “ An’ it is crazy—as crazy as Blume- feldt—an’ that guy’s crazy like a fox. Now I’m willing to admit we didn’t know he was pallin’ with you, but we’re hep to some of the stuff he pulled all right, an’ we can put two and two together an’ make four th’ same as always out of that. “He sets this date for a killin’ with the Murgson mob. He agrees to sell ’em th’ formula for that bleach he let on he used. They agrees to his price an’ he goes to meet ‘em, an’ you blow into town. You mosey down an’ stand on th’ corner waitin’ ‘he? ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, an’ th’ first thing you know Blumefeldt comes along. Only things ain’t just what you might call propitious for your going with him, wherever he was going an’ splittin’ a bunch of coin, because Blumefeldt’s on th’ jump. He hadn’t quite succeeded in closin’ th’ deal when we cut in. He'd got th’ money, but he hadn’t turned over th’ formula to th’ buyers when we smashed in th’ door, an’ he beat it out th’ window of his room. An’ he takes their bundle with him an’ jumps off a roof on top of Jenkins an’ runs up th’ street. An’—what does he do after that?” The whole thing was news to Harmon. And the way Salles told it was far from plain. Because Salles was evidently work- ing on the supposition that he had been ac« quainted with Blumefeldt, trying to trick him into some slip, some admission of guilty knowledge; trying his best to connect him in an accessory way at least with a crime. Salles knew he wasn’t Blumefeldt, but— he was trying to show he was Blumefeldt’s friend. He was trying to fix something on him. But he couldn’t. He was innocent. He hadn’t done a thing. He had told the truth exactly as he knew it all along, and —he would tell it again. ‘“* He ran up to me and slapped my face,” he said, ‘ after he had put that bank note into my hand.” “Did he? That’s the question?” Salles sat back in his chair. ‘* Listen here, Hare mon. I’m wise to th’ story you told when they brought you in. But th’ point is did All we know is that you was actually on that corner an’ that just as Jenkins spotted you, you ran. What if, instead of givin? you anything more’n an earful of his trouble, Blumefeldt ducked for cover, an’ you waited till you was sure Jenkins saw you, before you ran. You was safe enough, wasn’t you? You knew we wouldn’t find anything on you. An’ once you were sure Jenkins thought he had the guy he’d been chasin’, it was a cinch for you to stall him along.” The worst of the thing was that it might have happened just as Salles said. Pro- vided always that he had been Blumefeldt’s accomplice it would have been a rather clever thing to have done. Blumefeldt COMIG DOO! (©