The Argosy for May — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

JACOBS JUGGERNAUT, terrupted. pnere:” A sharp cry escaped him. ‘“Oh,” he moaned, ‘my head and side pain me so.” For a minute no one spoke, then the injured one added: “‘ You must be the man they were after.” ‘What do you mean?” Jacobi asked. The car was slowly proceeding north- ward, and an occasional darkened house disclosed the fact that they were ap- proaching a town. “T can tell you—in a few words.” The stranger’ spoke with great effort. “Tt had spent the evening—at a friend’s —about three miles down the road. The last trolley — was missed —and I was forced to walk. ‘That spot—where you found me—JI approached and heard voices. I stopped—and listened— Oh, my side!’ he moaned, and paused as if in great pain. “T’ll have you at a doctor’s pretty soon now,” Jacobi told him. “There were three men,” the stran- ger continued. ‘I soon learned they were there—to hold-up and rob—a res- taurant-owner in New York—who lived in Haledon. “Yes?” Jacobi broke in, now all ex- citement. ‘Just then—I stepped on a dry twig. Before I knew it—they were upon me —and struck me down by repeated blows on the head. I remember, nothing more —until I found myself here.” “Then you saved me—” Jacobi stopped abruptly, and there was an added warmth in his tone as he con- “Tl tell you when we get tinued: “ Try to bear the pain a short while longer.” The stranger leaned forward and stared into the gloom outside the car. ‘“My house—you are near it. It’s on the next :corner,’”’ he murmured. ‘‘Tf you wish to be taken there,” Ja- cobi rejoined, ‘‘I will leave you. But I insist upon sending a doctor to you.” “There is one in our house,” the stranger returned, still gazing intently out of the car, “It’s a boarding-house ——_and—there it is now.” He pointed to a large dwelling a short distance ahead. “ Pull in, Harris,” was the order, and the car drew up close to the curb. 99 oe een 245 “What is your name?” Jacobi in- quired, as thé machine came to a stand- still. ‘ Bickel,” was the reply. “Ring the bell, Harris, and get some one out here.” As the chauffeur started for the stoop the injured man called after him: “ Ask them to get Dr. Zabriskie to come down. Ask for him.” It was some moments after Harris had rung the bell when a light appeared ~ in a room on the second floor and the raised window disclosed a woman. ‘Who is there?” she inquired. ‘* Please tell Dr. Zabriskie to come down,’* Jacobi called. “ Mr. Bickel has met with an accident—”’ The head quickly disappeared, and a moment later a manjin a dressing-gown and slippers appeared at the front door. He volunteered the information that he was Dr. Zabriskie. In response to Jacobi’s call, he fol- lowed Harris to the machine and, upon . being told very briefly of the accident, directed that the injured man be helped to his room. The chauffeur and his employer made a seat by grasping the crossed hands of each other,’ and carried the sufferer into the house and up-stairs, the doctor following them closely. As the victim of the highwaymen was laid tenderly upon his bed, Jacobi and Harris stepped back to allow the physi- cian to determine the extent of Bickel’s injuries. “What happened, Mr. Bickel?” the surgeon queried while taking his pulse. “ I was struck on the head,” was the _ reply, “and then run over—by an auto- mobile.” “Where do you feel pain?” the doc- tor went on, while he felt the other’s head carefully. ‘My head—and side,” ing reply. Zabriskie unbuttoned the man’s coat and shirt, and went over Bickel’s chest with both hands, while Jacobi and his chauffeur awaited anxiously the result of the examination. “Three ribs fractured —one com- pound,” the surgeon announced without looking up. “ And a bad one, too,” he added in a tone that plainly showed the was the groan- GComichoo S (©)