The Argosy, March 1907 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

naught. Radford thought a little. good that beard seemed to have done him, all things considered. ‘Never mind/ the beard,” he said wearily. ‘‘ Bring it up, if you like, and I’ll take it along. I—I wore that thing for a purpose, you know, but it doesn’t seem to have served that purpose so glowingly that His voice trailed away. The clerk left. The druggist dressed slowly and in some discouragement. The pain in his head was of a nagging sort, and the pain in his heart worse. Most sincerely did he wish that, come what might, he had perforated that infernal Catterson, or Pender! Two opportunities had come _ to Radford paused and looked out of the high window, across the farming country beyond Blackfield. He snarled aloud, too, and registered a vow; next time, whenever that might be, he would plant the pistol at Catter- son’s heart and give him the choice be- tween returning or dying on the spot! His toilet was hardly completed, when a man entered with a tray of food and the order from Dunn that the mystery up-stairs should eat in his present apart- ment. The druggist assented sourly. “Tell Dunn I want a bill for what- ever I owe him,” he snapped. “I was told to tell-you that there ain’t no bill, mister,” was the reply. ‘‘ The boss says”—the man _ giggled—‘“ he says he’s only too darned glad to get rid of you, and to eat quick and leave!” Radford restrained a mad desire to hurl the man down-stairs, follow, and macerate the proprietor. He shut his teeth and ate silently, and the person departed with a last curious stare at the man about whom every employee had been cautioned not to say one word. The unlucky beard, neatly sealed in an envelope, lay at the side of the break- fast-tray. The druggist pocketed it as he finished his coffee. He found his hat and picked up his bag. He was going, but just where he could not have told. At all events, he would leave by the front entrance. But at the foot of the upper stairs a boy stepped out, politely, perhaps, but | with determination. "a Great —— . oo ae » je Me _—_ eos a * * mes ogy ra", - = ' a SS ws x e ~ AL SE con. Pee ake - : c ‘ = ne WI Z > < - ont ~< : > . Ie - x -~zA- ISK — ie a FE 1 : ‘ = ~. * - : Las : ; 5 =" . . : v ‘ : e ae “You'll have to go down this way, sir,” he said. ‘‘ The boss says so.” Radford paused ; came to him. “* See. here; kid,” he.said,. * on duty last evening?” ¢« ‘Yes, sir, till twelve.” “ Did this man Catterson leave ?.”’ weré you really “Sure he did. Just after midnight. I took down his things.” ‘Where did he go? . se Away in a carriage, I think. That’s all I saw.’ Radford groaned and heat his de- scent by the servants’ stairs. » A carriage! That opened up new and worse possibilities. What earthly means was he to take to discover whither the carriage had gone—more particu- larly in a town where he had already put himself in a queer position?. The back door closed behind him, and | the druggist trudged through an alley and out into the street at the rear of Dunn’s. A carriage! Walking slowly, Radford metaphorically revolved that carriage in his mind. How could he get track of it? But after a block or two he began try- ing to place himself in Catterson’s po- sition, and to reach some result by rea- soning backward. Catterson, undoubtedly, had left town. Which way would he naturally take? Not toward Bondville and the Center, certainly. On the other hand, he could not jour- ney farther by trolley, for the trolley stopped at Blackfield. Radford tried hard to think whither he might have traveled in the carriage. He could not name a place. south, within driving distance, there were no towns so large as the three which Catterson had visited ; indeed, they were all small hamlets, where his impressive person would have attracted too much attention. That carriage had been a blind! Rad- ford grew more certain of it the longer he debated the question. Catterson had made tracks for regions far remote, and there was only one means for that—the railroad. Yes, that was the only clue to work on. He would go to the station and dis- a minor thought ’ : oo ? North or connie Oo! ‘S.€O et a ae 4 Vit woes We oh tour Cease b tis 4 | -_ MY) Se a ee a