The Argosy for May — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

THE NAME OF MARTIN HOFFMAN. Was he crazy, or was that other indi- vidual? Or was it all an extremely poor joke, perpetrated by some convalescent of the place? For the instant, his over-tried brain took to its tricks of unsteadiness again, and he was unable to determine defi- nitely. With something of an effort, he threw off the recollection of the whole affair as far as possible. {t was time for him to go on and find his way out, even if he had to attempt the descent of a fire-escape in the dark- ness that surrounded him! He’d do it, too, and take his chances ; and—there was another door at his hand. For a little, he felt over it. It was much like the former; perhaps it would lead to nothing whatever; perhaps it was the exit to a rear stairway—or some- thing of the sort. He felt on and on, and his hand en- countered a bolt on the hall side of the door. Hoffman started joyfully; this looked promising. The entrance to a stairway, perhaps, or—he slid back the bolt and tried the door. It opened with beautiful ease. The wanderer thrust one foot forward and felt his way. The floor was entirely solid. He advanced another yard, and found only level carpet. He tried again, and felt about with his arms; he seemed to be in another room now. Confusedly, cursing his blindness, he felt farther to either side. There was nothing solid to be encountered. Well, he’d turn around and get out, and look further for escape; and— “Tt is certainly high time you turned up, Dansten!” said a thin, cracked voice, some few feet before him. The blind man stopped short. What?” ‘“T say, it’s certainly high time that you put in an appearance, Dansten!” the sharp tones repeated. ‘‘ Why haven’t you been here before? What?” Hoffman choked down the amazed question that was in his throat. There was something here altogether beyond his understanding, for the present. He’d have to take these little pleasant- ries in the spirit in which they were ad- vanced, whatever that might be. He tried to smile; and a vague flicker of mirth came over his lips. 285 ‘“ [—er—was delayed!” he announced shakily. “Delayed, were you? Humph The voice seemed to have grown more irascible; and the visitor catalogued it suddenly as that of a rather elderly man. “Well, you’re here now, anyway. I hope you’ve come for business?” ‘* [—er—yes!”’ “ “T—er—yes!’” quoted the unseen. “Hades! Your father never wabbled around with any ‘ Il—er—yes!’ my boy. He was a man that knew the law business from one end to the other!” “Of course!” assented Hoffman dazedly. “And you'll be like him, all in due time,’ the thin voice continued, with a little kindlier accent. ‘Sit down!” “ If—if you’ll show me a chair?” sug- gested the visitor. ‘“ I’m blind.” “Blind?” ‘The voice rose to an astounded scream. Pattering footsteps came toward Hoffman, and he felt that some one was staring at him. ‘ Well, I’ll be hanged, boy! Here, sit here! Now! Gently! That’s right. Down there!” Thin fingers clutched the visitor’s arms, and he was lowered into a com- fortable armchair. For a minute or so he waited expectantly ; creaking of a willow chair somewhere across the room, he heard: “ You haven’t brought the papers, of course?” : ‘“ Why—no!” “I thought not. I thought not. I thought not. Yowre so devilish un- dependable, Horace. Your father would have had them with him; and all made out in proper form—and after my wait- ing all these months to see you, too! Well—bah!” Hoffman moistened his lips, and tried to smile again. ‘* You — er — see, it was unavoidable this time,” he explained thickly. ‘ I—” ‘Unavoidable! Unavoidable! Why should you allow anything unavoidable to enter into a case as important as mine?” the person demanded. you know, Horace—don’t you know pos- itively—that just as soon as we put my claim before any judge, the whole ninety- seven millions are going to be awarded to me by the courts? {?? COmiCcooOokKs then, with a. Don’t you know “Don’t - CO)