The Argosy for May — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

THE NAME OF MARTIN ‘* Er—what, dear?” ‘“T say, I wonder whether Martin’s going to weather the storm for the Gal- pin outfit?” the brother mused. “I doubt it like the dickens!” There was no answer. been too thoroughly discussed, and his prospects in the last few weeks had been too gloomy, to allow of much specula- tion. “Tm going to call him up and sur- prise him!” Richard Hoffman an- nounced. He walked to the telephone and asked for the Galpin Company’s num- ber. He waited a little, and suddenly asked to be connected with Mr. Martin Hoffman’s office, and: ‘Mr. Hoffman is not here to-day!” the company’s Central informed him. 4é Eh? ”) “No, sir. He hasn’t been down.” “Are you sure?’ Richard swallowed a little. “ Yes, sir.’’ “ Well, send some one to Mr. Stound and ask again.” He waited once more; and presently he caught his breath. ‘“Mr. Stound says that he isn’t there, and that it is the first time in twenty years he hasn’t been on hand _ before nine?” oN Csessites ‘ Then—well, leave word for him that his brother called up, if he should happen to come in within the next hour. Good-by.”’ He hung up the receiver and turned to his wife with somewhat startled eyes. “Mart isn’t down at the office,” he announced, “‘and they haven’t had: any word from him. I—hang it! He must e ill! I’m going to see.” He shot out of the suite and to that other floor where Martin Hoffman abode. He was back in a matter of five minutes .with new information. ‘The room-maid says Martin wasn’t there last night, and that his bed hasn’t been disturbed!’ he announced rather wildly. ‘Well, he may have taken a notion to go off somewhere for a little relaxa- tion,” his wife said gently. “ He cer- tainly needs it badly enough, dear.” “Maybe he does, but Martin never ~~ et. Martin had HOFFMAN, 281 - went off at such a time as this unless some one chloroformed him!” replied Martin’s brother. “I’m going down to the office and find out what. struck him ! ” The elevator, within a very few sec- onds, landed him before the desk of the hotel, and Mr. Hoffman, the elder, came straight to the point with: ‘Was my brother here last Dickson?” The clerk stared, open-mouthed. “ Why—er—yes, sir.” “Well, where is he now?” “TI can’t tell that, Mr. Hoffman.” “Why not?” “Because I don’t know.” The elder brother did a little staring himself. “Well, have you gone crazy, Dickson, or have I?” he inquired. ‘‘ What the deuce became of Martin? He _ hasn’t left on a wild carouse, has he? You didn’t notice any signs of intoxica- tion or—” ‘Certainly not, sir; but—” Inexplicable emotion seemed to have choked the clerk. “Well, what?” the inquirer de- manded rather violently. ‘‘ What in thunder has happened here, anyway?” “If you will just step inside, sir,” suggested the clerk with a studied, gen- tle compassion. Hoffman went through the gate brisk- ly, and took a chair to the rear of the enclosure, beside the big safe. The clerk, with a final glance about the de- serted lobby, followed him, and dragged another to his side. ‘“Do you mean to say, Mr. Hoffman,” he said very earnestly, “‘that you are not here before you were due because they sent for you?” ad NEY bi “Why, the gentlemen, Your brother, and the rest.” “TI certainly haven’t heard from Mar- tin—that is, in any spectacular way such as you seem to suggest.” ‘Not your brother Martin, sir. Your of course. brother John.” Mr. Richard Hoffman stared at him for a full minute; then his summary came forth with a characteristic and cheerful frankness. “Vou let it alone, Dickson—the conmicbooks night, - (C@)