Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

120 He noted some memoranda in Lawrence North’s handwriting and saw that it corre- sponded with the note left for him. Sheriff Potter came in while he was there, but the conversation between them was of little interest to either. It was all so hopeless, it seemed to Wise, and so blankly mysterious, it seemed to Potter, Claire Blackwood came over from her home, and Wise turned to her as to a friend. “ Do tell me something about this man, North, Mrs. Blackwood,” he said. ‘‘ Have you known him long?” “Only through this summer,” she re- plied. ‘“ He’s a New Yorker, but I don’t know much else about him.” , “ What’s his business?” " “Ym not sure, but I think he’s a real estate man. He’s spending two months here, and he rented this bungalow furnished. You see, Mr. Wise, the people of this colony are a sort of lawless, happy-go-lucky set. I mean if we like any one we don’t bother to inquire into his antecedents or social standing.” “Is North married?” “T don’t think so., At least, I’ve always thought him a bachelor, though nowadays you never can tell. He may have a wife for all I know.” ** At any rate, Mrs. Blackwood, he has most mysteriously disappeared. And I do hope if you know anything—anything at all, about the man, you will tell me. I don’t mind admitting I am greatly distressed and disturbed at this new development of the Varian case.” “You connect Mr. North’s disappearance with Betty Varian’s, then?” “ How can I help it? Both vanished from the same house. It proves, of course, that there is a secret exit, but it is strange that it cannot be found.” . “It is disappointing, Mr. Wise, to find that such a famous detective as you cannot find a concealed entrance to a country house!” ‘“‘ ‘You are not more disappointed than I am, Mrs. Blackwood. I am chagrined, of course, but I am more frankly puzzled. The whole case is so amazing, the evidence ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. so scanty, clues non-existent. What can I dor I feel like saying I was called in too late—yet, I’m not sure I could have done better had I been here at first. I can’t see where evidence has been destroyed or clues lost. It is all inexplicable.” “You are delightfully candid and far from bumptious.”’ She smiled at him. “I feared you were of the know-it-all variety, and I see you aren’t.” ‘Help me to know it all, Mrs. Black- wood,” Wise urged. ‘I can’t help feeling you know more about Lawrence North than any one else up here. If so, can’t you tell me something of his life?” “No, truly, Mr. Wise, I don’t know any more than I’ve told you. He was up here last year—this is my first season. But I don’t know of any one up here now that knows him very well. He is a quiet, re- served sort of man, and as a matter of fact, we are not a gossipy lot.” Disheartened and disappointed, Wise went back to Headland House, only to find that Dr. Varian had arrived during his absence. The detective was glad to have him to talk to, for it promised at least a fresh view- point to be considered. ‘“‘T must admit, Dr. Varian,” Wise said frankly as the two confabed in the Varian library, ‘that I have no theory that will fit this case at all. I have solved many mys- teries, I have found many criminals, but never before have I struck a case so abso- lutely devoid of even an imaginary solution. Granting a criminal that desired to bring disaster to the Varian family, why should he want to abduct Lawrence North?” “* Perhaps North knew something incrim- inating about him,” suggested the doctor. *‘ But that’s purely supposition; there’s no fact to prove it, or anything like it. As a start, suppose we assume a kidnaper of Betty Varian. Although, even before that, we have to assume a secret entrance jnto this house.” “ That, I think, we must assume,” said Varian. “‘It seems so, If you knew how hard I’ve hunted for one! Well, then assume 2 kid- naper, who, for the sake of ransom, abducts Betty Varian—”’ comicloool C©