The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

144 of the police department, Mr. Prince. You do bear a slight resemblance to a suspect on our list. This young fellow is a bit green and his overzeal, I fear, led him astray.” Prince’s manner now suddenly changed. His jovial smile came out like a sun from behind the clouds. He shook the offered hand heartily. ‘“Ain’t your name Donovan?” he asked. “Yes,” admitted the inspector. ‘“ I’m glad you remember me. I met you two years ago at the International Oudmen’s Convention in Denver City. Do you place me?” ‘Sure thing.” “Drop in and see me some time, at the Thirtieth Precinct headquarters around the corner. You'll always be welcome. And don’t be too hard on the young fellow; he meant well.” , The patrolman had long since slunk out, and the inspector now followed him, with ® a curt nod to the assembled Harlingoods. The father had come to life. Arthur had curiously resumed his initial listless and confident pose of a successfully bored ‘man of affairs. Fane had sidled over toward Jack to be sympathetically near him in his extremity, while her mother appeared to have for- gotten the iniquity of Welling in a sudden desire to do obeisance to Aunt Belle. The inspector’s back was no sooner turned than Prince seized the idle hand- cuffs which lay on the table. He slipped one quickly over Jack’s wrist and the other over Fane’s, and locked them securely. “There, young fellow,” he exclaimed— “that’s the best catch you'll ever make.” He placed the little diamond in Jack’s hand. “Put that where it belongs,” he added jovially. ‘“‘ Johnny,” protested Miss Haynes hope- lessly, ‘‘ now you’re up to your rough tricks again. And only right after promising me to try to behave like a gentleman.”’ Prince was himself once more, however, and at one with his world. “Hush, Aunt Belle,” he chided banter- ingly. ‘I never promised. not to hitch up any young couple I happen to see that need splicing and deserve it like these two do.” THE ARGOSY. ‘“But you should consider the feelings of the young lady’s mother,”’ primly resist- ed the little old lady who stood stanchly at the side of her fourth cousin by mar- riage. | Prince included Mrs. Harlingood with an expansive smile which as much as said he freely forgave her for all he had done to her, and laughingly replied: ‘“* Mother won’t object when I give them a good home to start in, and ”—he turned to the manacled pair—“ say, Welling,” he asked in a businesslike manner, ‘ what kind of a job do you think you’d like? T’ll start you at most anything you want, but if you take my advice you’ll leave detecting to the regular sheriff.”’ CHAPTER XXXII, “MY AURORY!”’ T° describe the individual feelings of the several Harlingocds at this moment would require far greater space than should be allotted now to so voluminous a subject. Whether it was relief, chagrin, apprehen- sion, or only a reborn desire to make avail- able any opportunity cast their way by fate, or a mingling of all these that domi- nated them, it is, however, certain that henceforth they indicated only the warmest respect for their guest—or was he tenant? tenant? , This latter question was promptly an- swered by Prince, who addressed Mr. Har- lingood, and by tactful ignorance of the late relations with Arthur in the assumed character of secretary, immediately won the owner of the mansion by asking if he still had it in mind to lease his house. To this Mr. Harlingood replied, with a decent amount of reserve, that he would not be unwilling to accommodate a man of such high standing as John C. Prince, whereupon the favorite nephew of Miss Abigail Arbella Haynes relieved the Har- lingood tension by remarking loudly so all could hear: | ‘‘ Fine! Then I keep the house. That’s settled. Now, you'll find my check’s all right, so we'll go right along as if nothing had happened.” comicbool< CO