The Argosy, March 1907 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

DEEN LEIP Tee ca. prin. The clerk nodded and handed -. Catterson his key. en Radford stepped back a little, the bet- 3g -ter to gather speed for a hurried effect in = -—_—_-: entering—he took a long breath—he = strode in quickly and crossed to the desk. a “ Well, I guess this’ll be the last trip 2s for me,” he announced. ‘I suppose Be Mr. Catterson ain’t here yet? Most - likely he won’t be back till to-morrow, oe a eh? ? zs The clerk looked up and smiled. 3 “On the contrary, he has just come in. He’s up-stairs now.’ ‘Did you give him my note?” ae “Of course. ~He left word for you to . | be sent up should you appear again = ag evening.’ 3 He struck the bell, and the boy came i to the desk. The clerk indicated Rad- me ford with a nod and his destination 3S ‘‘ Forty-two, Fred.” oes Breathing hard, Radford walked up Ska the stairs behind the youngster. 3 At last it had come! At last his chance had arrived! What use was he to make of it? The druggist gripped the revolver in his pocket and growled so. savagely and suddenly that the boy turned. “This is the room, sir.’ “All right; you needn’t knock,” Rad- | ford whispered hurriedly, as he dropped a -half-dollar into the youngster’s hand. the “You just—skip!” The boy left swiftly, carrying with him the impression that at last a million- aire was beneath their roof. When he was out of sight-Radford gathered him- self and tapped forcefully on the panels. Pe Sass ae > we Rea i ‘Tee : . Coa G Pe i ae : \ ae DAY .)) & =") 4 ety a LW, =) » 41° ns . 4 Pa ee * aS Ds BRE terre sy : 7 a we “Come in!” YS The druggist drew his gun and held it = behind him. He turned the knob and a opened the door—to what? ee Back toward him, Catterson was ee writing rapidly. He did not turn; he aa merely inquired : ae “Well, what the devil brings you here, Ryan?” Radford did not reply. The other -scribbled on unconcernedly for a min- ute or two, blotted and folded a sheet, and placed it in the envelope. Then, with a slow swing, he turned. Se And Radford’s revolver, steadily held eer and aimed straight for his heart, was ~ not ten feet distant! . ~~ ; cay! te. es : Nea OTHE GRGOSE Oo g Wot whats gasped the dum- — founded man. — One hand deaboed oddly to his ‘side. Radford noted the move and stepped nearer. “Hold on!” he cried softly. “If you're feeling for a gun yourself, don’t do it! Keep both hands in front of you —keep ’em there, I say! Now raise your voice just once or try to attack me, if you want to die on the spot!” “ Why—you infernal idiot eS “TI mean it!” Radford snarled. His eyes glared furiously. Catterson. sank back in his chair and stared hard. But after a little he seemed to have recovered from the shock; his voice was — rather calmer as he spoke again: bee “ Young man, do you mind informing me 9 “Tm going to inform you of every- thing!” the druggist cried bitterly. “Look! Here’s a beginning!” His free hand went to his chin. He gave a little tug and the beard came away. He stood before the startled man with shaven, set jaw. - “ The—the druggist chap!” ae ge Catterson. “Yes! The druggist chap, and ges didn’t quite expect him! ”’ A slight smile appeared on cote son’s lips. : “Frankly,” he said, “ I did not.” “ But he got here all the same, and he got to you!” Radford went on hur- riedly. ‘‘ And now do you know what that same druggist chap is going to do?” * Well, really —— ei “He’s going to take you back to Bondville, if it has to be done at the point of this gun!” “And just why?” “Because you murdered Thomas Bandmann, Pender! ” “Eh?” ‘The amusement fled from Catterson’s face, and he frowned a little. Breathing rapidly, Radford almost bent over him, and rage boiled within him. “Oh, you didn’t get away this time as easily as you did last night! I made ~ a fool of myself in the Center by giving you a hint of who I was, but I haven’t done it this time. I sent up the bait and. you bit it—and I’ve got you where I want you!” - . (E@) JOO ‘S.€O