The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

114 Various other creditors reduced his burden of one-thousand dollar bills in exchange for a settlement of their ac- counts; so by noon his tally showed that he had got rid of twelve, and, well satisfied with this as the result of an hour’s work, he decided to return to the hotel for luncheon. But he had no sooner ordered his elaborate repast than his appetite departed; for on open- ing a paper his eye caught the flaring head-lines covering an account of the kidnaping of Robert Anderson Mc- Nutt, Jr. Strangely enough, no mention was made of the boy’s return, but the article told of a note received only that morning demanding a ransom of fifty thousand dollars from the dis- tracted parents. What did it mean? Had the paper made a mistake, or was this news only a stall on the part of the lawyef to put his erlemies off the track? But, as he glanced bewilderingly up, Frank got another jolt, for over by the door stood a heavy-set man whom he recognized as one of the city de- tectives. With him was the taxicab- driver of the night before, evidently pointing out Frank to the officer. The latter beckoned imperatively, and Swanson, lIuncheonless, had to arise and obey the behest. “ Come quietly now, and don’t raise a fuss,” the detective advised, dropping a hand on his shoulder. ‘ You’re wanted on this McNutt kidnaping case, and the best thing you can do is to make a clean breast, and tell us where the kid is, and who are your pals.”’ Frank accepted at least a part of this as good advice, and on his arrival at the police station did make a clean breast of his entire connection with the matter, telling his story so straight and with such evident sincerity that he carried conviction even to the skep- tical policemen, especially as his ac- count was corroborated in the main by the testimony of the chauffeur. The only part he left out was the later transaction in regard to the one- THE ARGOSY. thousand-dollar bills, and that he felt was not his secret. Nor could he yet believe that his benefactor was a crook and kidnaper. If that were so, why should he give over to a stranger a fortune, knowing that the next day would certainly bring exposure of his real character ? It was all very puzzling, he had to admit, yet he was confident that in the end his new-found acquaintance would turn out to be all right. “Where you made your mistake,” observed the captain, who was quizzing him, “that is,.if mistake it was, and you're on the level, was in taking the kid to 69 Grenadine Terrace.. McNutt lives at 169.” “Then, what is at 69?” demanded Frank quickly. The captain shrugged his shoulders. “Only a vacant house now,” he said. The gang moved out before daylight this morning. You see, it was a plant the kidnapers had fixed up for the pur- pose of bagging the boy; and when the poor little chap managed by luck to escape from the cellar down here in the slums where they’d taken him, you, you big boob, with your bum memory, landed him right back in their hands. ‘The houses on that terrace all have lions on their stoops. It sounds most too foolish to be true, I’ll confess; but judging from your general make-up I guess we'll have to let it go at that. I’ve phoned your father, and he says he’ll be responsible for your appear- ance in case we want you; so get along with you now, and the next time you run into something don’t try to butt in on the work of the police.”’ Even yet, though, Swanson could not square up this seeming criminality with the actions of the man who had handed him over the fifty-two thou- sand dollars. So certain was he, indeed, that everything would ultimately be satisfactorily explained that he did not even resent the scathing sarcasm of the police captain. Vainly he sought for a rational solu- tion as he walked away from the COMmMiclhoo S CO