Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

CIRCUMSTANCES. ‘Why should I explain?” she demand- ed. “Is there anything so fearfully wick- ed\in agreeing to take dinner with a man?”’ ‘But under the circumstances?” “T can’t see what difference that makes.” ‘You must remember, Miss Archer,” he urged, “that all cities aren’t as sophisti- cated as New York. Besides, there surely was a reason why—” ‘Of course there was a reason,” she re- plied. “I think Thornton Pendleton is a very interesting man.” The girl’s use of the prosecutor’s given name made Brent tremble. He was still “Doctor” or ‘‘ Dr. Brent.” Philip Brent did not continue the con- versation. That morning Collins and he were to take the tramp from the lockup to identify the body in the morgue—that of the man who had fallen under the train. The visit had been postponed for one reason or another. Driving to police headquarters, Brent saw Pendleton leaving the Press office. He wanted to talk to Pendleton, and hailed him as he pulled into the curb. “Tye just been following your example, doctor,” explained the prosecutor as he climbed into the car. “In what?” “Tn regard to Miss Archer,‘’ laughed Pendleton. ‘I think the Press will print an apology to me to-night.” They were nearing police headquarters. “Can I take you on to the court-house?” Brent asked. “Wish you would,” said Pendleton; then went on explaining: ‘ They must have been out of their heads to have print- ed a thing like that.” “You mean your making the engage- - ment with Miss Archer?” “Precisely,” said Pendleton, smiling. “You'll remember I said the law would make her talk if I couldn’t. There’s no comparison between compulsion under the law and a friendly little chat when it comes to getting a woman to tell what she knows —and what you want to know.” The prosecutor was not aware of the glance Brent gave him. . 157 ‘And she played right into my hands,” Pendleton went on. “In fact, she first proposed our having dinner together. I saw through it in a minute.” The prosecutor omitted mention of the fact that after a momentary flash of per- spicacity he had deliberately deceived himself into believing that Peggy Archer had come to him quite innocently. | ‘It’s just as I said, doctor,” continued Pendleton. ‘‘ There is something she has been trying to hide. She wasn’t going to let me go on with the investigation if she could help it.” ‘“ How about the parrot?” asked Brent, abruptly changing the subject. Pendletcn’s satisfied smile faded. “I don’t know,” he admitted. ‘ The reports about the parrots are true. None of the neighbors ever heard it talk that way before. Certainly what it says is significant. But we can’t make a case out of that.” ‘The money furnished a motive.” ‘But there is not the slightest trace of method. You yourself say the old wo- man’s death wasn’t due to violence.” ‘Tf something else turns up,” . asked Brent coolly, ‘‘I wonder if it will be as easy to explain as the insmuations about Miss Archer?” The prosecutor laughed. “Don’t worry, doctor. If an explanation is needed, we’ll have one.” In front of the court-house Pendleton’s assistant was waiting for him. ‘You're wanted at police headquarters right away,” the assistant explained. “Would you mind, doctor?”’ “TI was going there myself. man in the lockup we want to try on the identification of a tramp killed by a train.” ‘“T’m_ interested in a man they’ve got there, too,” remarked Pendleton, and went on to explain: “‘ some sort of disreputable customer they picked up the night Mrs. Spalding died.” “Oh, in connection with what this man Sturgis says about the two men at Crescent Avenue and Maple Street?”’ “Yes. But I don’t look for much to come of it. This fellow was picked up ’way at the other end of town. However, if the papers insist—”’ NOOK There is a. C@