The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

542 “You've got me guessing. Why the importance? ” King had gone his wondering way. Bremerton and O’Hara sat by the bed, watching the injured man closely. It was high time O’Hara understood the drift of affairs, and Bremerton gave him his full confidence. The struggle Mariquita and her fa- ther had gone through with Deane, Deane’s treachery to them, and his cov- ert bullying of Carruthers were blunt- ly stated. An angry red rushed into the Irishman’s face and higeyes gleamed as he listened. “You got all that from lips that couldn’t lie!” he exclaimed when his friend finished. “ What have you to say to it?” “ Nothing—yet. J want more proof that Deane is the unscrupulous devil the girl has painted him.” “Oh, but you can strain at a point! Where are you to get this proof ?”’ Bremerton nodded toward Carru- thers. ‘“ He’ll furnish it.” “Tf he’s ever able to talk, he may. There’s nothing certain.” “Then Jl get the proof from Deane.” - 66 Hower? PB) “In my own way,” said Bremerton, gazing out of the window. O’Hara hoisted around in his chair and peered at his friend through nar- rowing eyes. “And if you get this proof,’ he queried, “ what will you do?” “Throw a thousand dollars of Deane’s dirty money in his face,” snapped Bremerton, “ That much he has paid me, and you have made it pos- sible to give it back. Then Pll go fur- ther, by Heaven! and see that the Mal- lorys get what they’re entitled to.” “ Fine! ” exclaimed O'Hara. “ Glory ‘be, ’tis the finest thing in life to see a good man get right with himself. I knew it would come! You can throw the money in Deane’s face if you will, although I doubt the sense of that; but you'll never get the Mallorys their rights. Deane has gone to school for THE ARGOSY. his bunco games, and you don’t know your A B abs about the dirty work. Lock horns with him on that point, Bremerton, and both you and the Mal- lorys will get the worst of it.” The mill whistle blew. The clamor of the stamps died to silence and a gen- eral movement set in toward the chuck- shanty. Bremerton remained with Carruthers while O’Hara went for his meal; then O’Hara relieved Bremerton. When the latter returned to the of- fice he was surprised to find the Irish- man with the contents of Carruthers’s pockets on a table in front of him. _ , “When you’re looking for evi- dence,” explained O’Hara, “ personal belongings are common property. Now here’s this solid-framed forty-five- caliber Colt. Three empty shells in the cylinder. One load just missed you at the fork of the trail, thanks to the road-runner ; another raked the bushes while you and Mariquita were getting out of the swale; the other, maybe, put that hole in my hat.” “That’s guesswork, turned Bremerton. “ Close to the mark, though. If you ask for a motive, isn’t there a good one to tack onto Carruthers? When rogues fall out the divil gets his dues. Here’s a watch with a nugget fob. The hands quit telling the time at seven twenty-five. That’s when he dropped. And here’s a note-book with interest- ing readin’, Lee.” | O’Hara picked up a small memo- randum-book and turned the leaves. “Listen to this, will you. ‘To Pen- nyworth, on account of Bryden and the half-breed, $500.’ Who's Penny- worth?” — Bremerton pricked up his ears. “Pennyworth is the lawyer who had charge of Big Steve’s and Chom- bo’s fight in court,” said he. “Is there anything more? ”’ “Not a scrap; and-this must have got in by mistake. Now you. know who financed the defense for those blackguards and who’s paying pen- sions for hush-money. I guess this Mike,” re- COMicdoo S CO@