Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

SOME going to sit down and chew his finger-nails while Morrell’s got her. We'll go and see Gray. You remember Lane said Morrell was at Gray’s house when Lane went there as Hammond?” “That means waiting until morning,” objected Richards. “ I can’t stand it, Law- ton!” “ Steady, Richards; you’ve got to. Don’t put the police on the case now. They can’t do a thing. Anyway, it’s after one o’clock now, and a delay of four or five hours won’t matter much.” “ Morrell will kill her before that,” de- clared Richards. His face was drawn and seamed with new lines and wrinkles, and his eyes were filled with a haunting anx- iety. ‘Morrell would have killed her right in this room if he had meant murder,” said Lawton. ‘“ Carrying her away means that he’s got something else on his miserable mind.” For an hour the two men sat there, star-' ing at each other. Then Lawton, noting Richards’s growing impatience, suggested taking a walk. They went down into the streets and walked until the dawn came. Then they returned to the Highland and asked if John Hammond had returned. The clerk shook his head, watching them perplexedly as they sought chairs in the lobby and waited, their faces turned toward the door. When the streets began to clatter with early morning traffic Richards got up from his chair. “‘T’ve stood it as long as I can, Law- ton,” he said. “I’m going to see Seeley Gray.” They climbed into a taxi at the doors of the hotel and were whisked to the curb in front of Gray’s residence. Lawton, tacit- ly taking the initiative, ordered the driver to wait and led the way up the steps to the door. They waited for some time before their ring was answered, and when a servant ap- _ peared Lawton gave him a card, directing him to say to Gray that Mr. Lawton must see him immediately. The servant soon re- turned and ushered Lawton and Richards up-stairs. MAN! 133 Gray was fully dressed, though it was ap- parent that the final touches had been hur- ried, for his tie was a trifle awry, his hair ruffled; and when Lawton and Richards entered the library, Gray was hunching his shoulders to settle more firmly the col- lar of his coat. His greeting to the two men was formal, slightly frigid. He merely nodded his head to Richards—with no light of+ recognition in his eyes; he said good morning to Law- ton as he might have said “ drive on” to his coachman. When he had motioned them to chairs he sank into one at his desk - and looked -inquiringly at Lawton. “Well, sir; you have honored me with a very early call. What can f do for you?” Lawton’s eyes were pools of cold con- tempt. He got up, walked to the door, closed it, and returned to his chair. “We don’t want to be interrupted, Gray,” he said. ‘ This is real business.” He reached into a hip-pocket ‘and drew out a huge pistol, holding it, unaimed, in the palm of his right hand. Richards watched him, his face expres- sionless. Gray started, half rose from his chair, and then sat down again, his face pale, a gleam of fear in his eyes. “Steady, Gray,” warned Lawton as he saw Gray’s right hand fall to the desk-top and begin to slide along it. “I remarked that this is real business, and I mean it. Keep your hands away from that button, or I'll bore you so quick it will make you dizzy! We’re here to ask you some ques- tions; and they are going to be answered. But, now that I’ve arranged the prelimi- naries, I'll let Richards do the talking.” He jerked a thumb toward his companion. ‘“ Richards!” Gray peered hard at the other, who looked steadily back at him. And when Gray’s eyes began to glow with recognition, Lawton laughed shortly, mirthlessly. “Minus his beard, but still Richards— undeniably Richards—Jay Richards.” Law- ton grinned into Gray’s eyes, now fixed upon the silent Richards with a sort of fixed, vacuous incredulity. After Lawton had closed the door and drawn the pistol there had come into the atmosphere of the room a perceptible, even Go DOO) mn S (C@ 5}