Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

CIRCUMSTANCES. Collins report to Pendleton at once, the in- spector could do nothing. “ He is on the day shift this month,’’ Waldon explained, but called the desk-officer to make sure. The desk-officer said that Collins was on day duty. As Brent was descending the stairs, how- . ever, he saw Collins, out of uniform, stand- ing at the foot. ‘“Some one said you were looking for me, doctor,” he offered. ‘I was playing cards in the recreation-room.” Brent briefly explained. There was no question of being off duty. Collins cheer- fully agreed to go. The officer detailed at the inspector’s order for duty at the house came up, and as Brent offered to drive him up to Maple Street the three started off together. ‘“ About the identification of that fellow out at the railroad-yards,” said Collins as the car was rolling along Crescent Avenue, ‘“‘ we’ve got a bo in the lock-up who might know him.” “We'll take him around to the morgue to-morrow,” said Brent. “TI wited that Reading, Pennsylvania, address we found in the clothes,’ Collins went on to explain, “but I don’t expect we'll learn much from that.” — Brent dropped the policemen at the Maple Street house, but did not go in him- self. He had discovered a sudden dislike for Pendleton. If it was based on the pros- ecutor’s observations on the honesty of Peggy Archér, or Miss Spalding, Brent did not admit it. He drove home. ~ Phil let himself into the house, and went straight up-stairs. Mammy answered his quiet tap at the door of the front room. The old colored woman was so obviously pleased with herself that he knew everything was all right. The girl was sitting up in bed.. Phil did not speak until the door had closed behind mammy. Then he drew up a chair beside the bed and sat down. _ ‘“You’re not angry?” he asked. “About being brought here?” The girl smiled. ‘It’s just what I needed: some one to take hold of me and make me do what is best for me.” “J think mammy will see to that.” 151 ‘Oh, she has already,” she assured hin, taking ‘hold of the fold of a lavender kimono she was wearing and stretching it out until her arm was at full length. “This is mammy’s,’” explained the girl. “Her very best. She abused you fearfully for forgetting to bring my things. Then she got me this—and a nightgown.” The girl’s easy, pleasant manner did not deceive the doctor. Her eyes were not so bright that he couldn’t see the deep trouble in them. But until morning, at least, he did not want to talk of the affair that had brought them together. ‘‘ Since I know half of it,” he suggested, ‘would you mind telling me the rest of your real name?” ‘‘ Elsie,” she said, then asked quickly: ‘“What’s wrong?” : Brent had started in surprise. ‘‘ Why— er—’’ he stammered. He would have liked to recall the question that had brought the startling reply, but with the girl’s curi- osity excited he thought it would be best to go through with it. ‘ The only time until to-day that I was in your house was when an Elsie Spalding—”’ ‘That was my sister-in-law.” ‘You have a brother—” “Her name was Elsie, too,” continued the girl, hastily. Brent did not hear the rest of what she was saying. He recalled as clearly as if the paper were before his eyes that the death-certificate had read “ Elsie Spalding, single, daughter of Mrs. Emily, et cetera.” Now this girl had said that the Elsie Spald- ing who had died was her brother’s wife, thereby not a.daughter of old Mrs. Spald- ing at all. Brent wondered if perhaps Pendleton hadn’t been right about Peggy Archer. Then he instantly hated himself for think- ing such a thing, and in the midst of it realized that the girl had stopped speaking. He looked up to find her studying him curiously. It seemed as if there was just a shadow of disappointment in her eyes. Then she said quietly: “‘ I am very tired. Perhaps I can sleep.” As Brent was going down-stairs the bell rang. He himself opened the door to ad-- mit Pendleton and Collins, DOOK C@