The Argosy, March 1907 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

-And poor Cecilia! =: 1? < ~ : . a rr ~~ Z defective throughout your typewritten manuscript. Under~a magnifying-glass, the similarity is still more striking. The same machine was used in both cases. I’m sure of it. “That wrapper contained the box of poisoned cigars which was sent to Bates. The person who typewrote that play also sent the cigars to Bates and killed him. I don’t know which one of you actually sent those cigars, but I reckon you both had a hand in it. Anyway, I’m going to lock you both up orf suspicion. Out of respect to the lady’s feelings, I'll take you down to headquarters in a- cab, if you like.” And protestations being unavailing, down to headquarters in a cab they went, and, their pedigrees having been taken by a gruff sergeant, they were locked up in separate cells. 3 “Jumping Jupiter groaned ‘Tom, tearing his hair in his despair. ‘ Was ever a human being as unlucky as [? Good Heavens, this experience will kill her!” The next day the newspapers con- tained lengthy and sensational accounts of Detective-Sergeant Butts’s clever cap- ture. The detective had built up a pretty good case against the prisoners. In ad- dition to the typewriting evidence, he had managed to learn of the enmity which had existed between Tom and the dead man. He had also learned from Manager Smiley the important fact that the dead man Bates was to have passed judgment on the play on which Tom and Cecilia had built such strong hopes. From these facts the police managed to establish a pretty strong motive for the crime. In another part of.the newspapers was {»? a brief review of the new play at the Gaiety. The critics vied with each other in roasting the unfortunate production, all of them declaring that it was the most driveling, inane rot that had ever been offered to the public. Tom squirmed in his cell as he read these caustic criticisms, and poor Cecilia wept bitterly. They felt almost as bad over the re- views as they did over their wretched plight. [It was not until after they had lan- second-hand dealer and ain . id ee ae . om ie es > Ohesnnd aga, we a at ars * ae ee Se Se a ~— (ee, Be ah BG Se "T's et oe ae a fi, - CFOS Spt Pm ee PE RS eg gs ae ER LN SP eT ae OO ONS ae ee rely aime ~<a A CALL FOR THE AUTHORS. . 785. guished in prison cells for three days that Cecilia suddenly remembered that she had sold her typewriting machine to a second-hand dealer the day after the play was finished, and that therefore it was impossible to charge her or Tom with having used the machine some weeks later to typewrite the address on the wrapper of the box of poisoned cigars. She explained this fact to her lawyer, and the latter, after interviewing the learning to whom he had resold the machine, man- aged to find the really guilty party, a half-witted man whom the dead Cyril - Bates had grievously wronged. After this individual had been ar- rested, and had made a full confession, Tom and Cecilia were allowed to go free. After their release, one of the first persons they met was Manager Smiley. The manager’s face was wreathed in smiles. “Let me congratulate you, people,” he cried, heartily. “Congratulate us?” growled Tom. ‘What for? If ever there were any two persons as unlucky as we are, I’d like to meet them. The fajlure of our play was bad enough, but this prison experience is just about the limit.” “But your play isn’t a failure,” cried the manager joyously. ‘ And your ar- rest was the greatest piece of luck that ever happened. Thanks to it, the play is an unparalleled success. We’re doing a glorious business at the box-office, hanging out the ‘standing room only’ sign at every performance.” “What!” cried Tom, in amazement. “The play a success? You can’t be serious. Why, that first night was the worst. frost I have ever heard of, and the papers roasted the play unmerci- fully.” : ‘I know they did,” chuckled the man- ager. “ But those same papers also had young columns of stuff about your alleged. responsibility for the murder of poor Bates. The public is greatly interested in the case, and out of curiosity they are flocking to the theater to see your play. We’ve made a mint of money already, and we’re sold out for weeks ahead. Sergeant Butts’s mistake was the best Gomichbooks.com