Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY what those men at the store said to me,” explained Larkin. “I wonder why they egged me on.” ‘““One explanation might be because they wanted you to harm Holroyd.” ‘“‘ Well, that mightn’t be such an easy thing to do,” said Larkin. ‘ He looks like a scrapper. He might have harmed me.” Ropes smiled. He had a very good idea of the relative prowess of the two men. ‘‘ Another explanation might be because they wanted it to look as if you had planned to harm him. I imagine it might have ap- peared that way to any unbiased observers.” Larkin glanced at this man, who was so ready with his answers. “ You think they were cooking up something about me?” he asked, suddenly anxious. ‘ But nothing did happen to Mr. Holroyd that night.” “No harm came to him,” said Ropes. ‘“‘ But, as you’ve probably heard, something did happen. He came to the boathouse with a man, who disappeared when they got here.”’ “Yes, I’ve heard about that. I say, Mr. Ropes, you don’t think they’re going to try to fasten anything on me because I went along the shore road that night, hot under the collar?” “You weren’t angry with Jacob Cush- ing. Now if it had been Holroyd who was shot—” ‘“That’s what I’ve been thinking. If it had been Holroyd! I’ve thanked my stars that I met that man with the flask, and in- stead of coming on along here went home to bed.” ‘“‘ But nobody knows about that man but yourself, Larkin. You might have invented him.” The big fellow paled, not from indigna- tion or resentment, but from appreciation of what might be imputed to him. His jaunty air vanished, and his eyes grew fur- tive. “ But it wasn’t Holroyd; it was Cush- ing; and nobody can say I had anything against him!” “You knew him, I suppose?” “ Yes, I knew him. But I hadn’t any- thing against him. I admired Mr. Cushing, same as every one did.” Ropes kicked some pebbles away with his OF THE OPAL. here in Freehaven; but whether Jacob Cushing was in it or out of it I can’t de- termine.” Larkin became easier again; evidently he had satisfied this man as to the irreproach- ableness of his attitude toward Mr. Cush- ing. ‘Looks like a conspiracy of some sort,” he agreed. ‘‘ Maybe some of those smart summer fellows over at Freehaven Point were mixed up in it.” ‘‘ Some of those who go to the teahouse?” “‘ Might be some of them,” was the non- committal answer. : Ropes blandly said: ‘“‘ Hasn’t it ever oc- curred to you that it might be one of those men who was giving Miss Clement pres- ents?” “She can take ’em from whoever she likes to.” ‘“ Ah, you have a really forgiving nature.” “I’ve been worried enough.” “Well, you’re a sensible fellow.” Larkin nodded.. “ Those jewels almost got me into trouble once. I’ve an idea she wouldn’t have minded if they had.” This jumped with Ropes’s own opinion. “Yd like to know where she got those jewels,” he said reflectively. “Can you think of any way in which we might find out?” He was surprised at the vehemence of the answer. ‘‘ Not through me you can’t. I’m done with her and all that teahouse crowd.” What was there in the heat, almost pas- sion, of Larkin’s expression that suddenly brought to Ropes’s mind the words of Jan- sen Derby: “If I were you I’d keep away from that teahouse”’? What malign influ- ence did the place, and the people who fre- quented it, possess? Around the boathouse came Daniel Ben- nett, stumping over the stones with the aid of a gnarled walking stick. ‘ Huh,’ he said, “I see you found somethin’, young feller. Good day to you, Nat. Be you giv- in’ him good advice?” | ‘‘ Sure,” said Larkin. “ Keep away from the ladies. That’s always been your motto, hasn’t it, Dan’1?” “TY dunno. I been foolish sometimes. But what do you do, Nat, when they come foot. ‘“ Well, there’s been some conspiracy .flockin’ round you? Take a club to ’em?” 229 CORAICLOO® O SS GO) nn