The Argosy for May — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

A HAND-BAG TOO I’m certain her objection to our engage- ment will end. I’ve got a clue that I’ll follow up in the neXt five minutes and report on right away. Wait for me.” He walked hurriedly down the aisle. The man in the brown derby looked after him sharply; and then, stepping to the counter beside them, beckoned Miss Hutchison and her niece to draw near. “Now,” he said in a confidential un- ‘dertone, “ here’s what I’ll do. You turn over that bag to me,’ I’ll report the goods in it to the office, and let you get away. ‘Of course, I could pinch you and make a lot of trouble that you_wouldn’t like to have happen. But I’ll°keep my eyes shut, so to speak, this time, and let you go.” He turned to Marion knowingly toward her aunt. and winked “T can see the old lady ain’t a pro- fessional crook. I understand what’s the matter with her.” He wagged his head shrewdly. “ Kleptomaniacs can’t help their habits—she ain’t to blame.” : “ But!” Miss Hutchison gasped ama- zedly ; “ you—”’ ‘“ Say,” the shopgirl behind the counter interrupted, “I’ve changed my mind ’ about givin’ you that bag of yours.’ _ She cast a scornful glance at the mus- tached man. ““T don’t believe you’re a shoplifter, nor a ‘klep,’ neither,’’ she announced. With a determined gesture, she hand- ed the little lady her precious satchel. ‘There you are, madam,” she said, glow- ering again at the man beside them. “Those fly cops think they know it all,” she sniffed contemptuously; “but they don’t.” The little lady hurriedly opened the bag, and the eyes of the brown-derbied man at her side glistened as he caught sight of the roll of bills within. “Now, let’s get down to business,” he whispered hastily. ‘ You give me that bag and—and a hundred dollars out of that roll, and I'll let you go.” Miss Hutchison looked uncertainly at her niece. Should she do as the man asked—pay a bribe to save herself from the consequences of a crime she had not committed? The two women. stared helplessly at each other. “ Quick!” hissed the low voice at their side. ‘“ Turn over that bag and the MANY. 383 \ money, and I[’ll beat it. If you don't, I’ll take you both to the manager’s of- fice, have you searched—both of you, mind—and then take you to jail. Which iSite The little lady glanced questioningly again at Marion. ‘Do as he says, aunt,” whispered her niece. “You must save yourself from this dreadful predicament.” Miss Hutchison looked timidly at the man bending over her shoulder. ‘You understand,” she said slowly, “that I am innocent of any wrong-do- ing—”’ “T only understand that I’m taking graft and runnin’ the danger of gettin’ fired out of my job,” he answerd quick- ly. “Come on, now; hand over that bag and a hundred dollars!” The little lady detached a bill from the bundle in her bag and slipped it, with the shoplifter’s chatelaine, into his hands. Almost before they realized it, so swift was his departure, the man was one. “Well,” the little lady sighed wearily, ‘that’s over with now. I’ve got rid of that hateful case of stolen property, and I have my own bag again. I suppose I’m very fortunate to get out of all this annoyance as easily as [ have.” “That horrid man!’ Marion ex- claimed angrily. “To think that he would accuse you of being a—a thief! I hope he does lose his wretched job for treating you as he did—and then making you pay him for it!” Miss Hutchison rose. “Tm lucky, I guess, to escape any- thing worse,” she said. ‘‘ Come, dear, we'll go now.’ a Oh, wait!” the girl cried in some embarrassment. “ Pom = Mr. Clinton promised to be back and asked me to wait for him.” “Marion,” began her aunt sharply, “we will not stay ‘ Look—auntie!” her niece interrupt- ed, staring behind the little lady. Miss Hutchison turned quickly. Coming toward them down the aisle was a group of men led by Tom Clinton, in whose footsteps followed the fellow in the brown derby, his arms linked in. those of two strangers. “ Here’s your shoplifter, Miss Hutchi- mn S YOO (C@