Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

CIRCUMSTANCES. “ A neighbor from across the street stayed at the house,’ explained Miss Spalding. ““ Her husband is away—a traveling man.” It was too dark for Brent to see her, but it seemed to him he had heard the voice before. He tried to place it as she con- tinued: “I’m taking you around to the back of the house becduse it happened there.” - They started along the path. Brent, following Pendleton, realized that the girl had a remarkable voice, low, sweet, and rich. And he admired tremendously the self-possession that mdde it possible for her to seem so assured under such difficult circumstances. They were at the kitchen door now, and a moment later inside, in the light. ‘““Miss Spalding,” explained Pendleton, “this is Dr. Brent—” ‘“‘ Why—er—er,” stammered Brent when he found himself facing a girl with Irish blue eyes and the softly colored oval of her face framed by dark, warmly lustrous hair. The girf smiled faintly. “‘'You’re—why, you’re Peggy Archer!” blurted Brent. Pendleton started at the name, and looked around to see the girl nod. “On the stage,”’ she said quietly. ‘“‘T knew you looked like some one I’d seen,” said Pendleton. Brent confessed to having attended two performances of ‘“ The Distant Shore.”” As a matter of fact he had seen it four times— and had a fifth ticket in his pocket even then. It is doubtful, however, if Brent could have given a coherent account of the play. But he could have discoursed end- lessly on its star, Peggy Archer. And here he was meeting her face to face. The girl had turned to the woman from across the way. “ It was so good of you to stay,” she said. The traveling man’s wife struggled to make an offer of staying on—the presence of Pendleton and Brent hinted of develop- ments that ought not to be missed. But Peggy Archer, Miss Spalding was pleasant- ly but firmly overpowering. Finally the neighbor was dislodged. As the girl turned from the door, Brent thought that just for an instant she looked very tired. But she smiled bravely when she found him looking at her. 149 ‘“ Where is the parrot?” he asked. The cage was no longer in the room. ‘“The woman next door took it.” Pendleton, who had been making a gen- eral survey of the kitchen, faced Brent. ‘Now, then, describe it to me, doctor,” said Pendleton. Brent explained how the body had lain and told of the stain at the corner of the table. This he could show the prosecutor, for it had not been scrubbed away—probably not even noticed. After examining it, Pendleton scrutinized the floor. “Ah!” he exclaimed. “‘ Isn’t this—”’ Brent saw what the prosecutor was look- Ing at. “Yes, it’s blood,” he agreed. cer had to shoot the dog.”’ “Who was sent from headquarters?” ‘Collins, I think— ‘Oh, yes, I know him,” said Bendletan, “Good man, Collins.” The prosecutor was silent for a time. Brent watched Peggy Archer without her being aware of it. She did look tired. ‘“ Now, Miss Spalding,” suggested Pen- dleton, smoothing his gloves. . The girl started nervously. ‘‘ Oh, yes,” she said, and crossed to the stove backed up by the glazed red bricks. ‘This was where she kept the money,” was her explanation as she lifted out the brick. Pendleton examined the recess from which the brick had been removed. ‘“Do you know how much was hidden there?” “I can’t really say,” the girl - replied,. ‘three thousand ‘dollars, perhaps more. I sent money to her regularly, and she had a small income.’ : ‘““Has any one but you touched this brick?” asked Pendleton, taking it from the girl and turning it gingerly in his gloved hands. She shook her head. Pendleton replaced the glossed brick, then turned. ‘’ Doctor,” he asked, “do you think it possible that Mrs. Spalding might have been killed by a blow from a weapon.” Brent shook his head. ‘I’m sure she either died from heart trouble and cut her head in falling, or that the fall was respon- sible for her death. You can see she did strike the table.” “The offi- DOOK C@