Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

128 the other to keep as close to the shore as possible. “Dangerous rocks,” Mills said briefly. ‘“‘ Steer clear of them,” admonished Wise. After passing round the headland on all its exposed sides Wise declared himself ready to return. In silence Mills turned his craft about, and again Wise told him to make the trip as close to the rocky cliff as he could man- age. _ “You want to get us into trouble?” asked Mills as he made a quick turn between two treacherous-looking points of rock. “I nearly struck then!” “Well, you didn’t,” said Wise cheerfully. “You're a clever sailor Mills, Get along back home now.” CHAPTER XV. CRIMINAL OR VICTIM? ENNINGTON WISE came to the con- clusion that he had now on hand the _.. hardest job of his life. This knowl- edge did not discourage him. On the con- trary it spurred him to continuous and des- perate effort. Yet, as he told Zizi, his efforts consisted mostly in making inquiries here and there in a hope that he might learn something indicative. “Tt isn’t a case for clues, evidence, or deduction,” he told her. ‘“ It’s—I hate the word—but it’s psychological.” “Tf you can’t be logical be psychologi- cal,” said Zizi flippantly. “ Now, you know, Penny, you're going to win out—” “Tf I do, it ’ll be solely and merely be- cause of your faith in me,” he said, his face beginning to show the look of dis- couragement that she had learned to dread. “That’s all right,” she responded, “ but this old faith of mine, while it will never wear out, it’s effect on you will. Don’t depend on it too long. Now let’s count up what we've really got toward a solu- tion.” “We've got a lot,” began Wise hope- fully. ‘“ We know enough to assume that Betty Varian was kidnaped and her father shot by the same hand. Or rather by orders as soon as I’m certain. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. of the same master brain. I don’t say the criminal himself committed these crimes. Then we know that our master villain got in and out of this house, or his subordinates did, by a means which he haven’t yet dis- covered, but which I am on the trail of.” “‘Oh, Penny, are you? Tell me where you think it is? Is it through the kitchen?” “Wait a couple of days, Ziz. I'll tell you In fact, I may have to wait a week to find out about it.” ‘“‘ Getting an expert on it?” ‘““Nope. Working it out myself, but it all depends on the moon.” “Oh, Penny, I’ve long suspected you of being luny, but I didn’t think you’d ad- mit it yourself! Howsoever, as long as you’re jocular, I’m not discouraged. It’s ‘when you pull a long face and heave great, deep sighs that my confidence begins to wabble.” - ‘““Don’t wabble yet, then, my dear, for when the moon gets around to the right quarter I’ll show you the secret way in and out of this house.” “It’s too bad of you, Penny, to spring those cryptic remarks on me! Save ’em for people you want to impress with your cleverness. But all right, wait till the moon gets in apogee or perigee or wherever you want her.” “T shall. And mean time, I’m going to track down friend North. He is a factor in the case, whether sinned against or sin- ning. That upset room was never upset in a real scuffle.” “It wasn’t!” — “No, ma’am, it wasn’t. I’ve been over it again, and unless I’m making the mis- take of my life, that upset chair was care- fully and silently overturned by a cautious hand.” “Meaning North’s?” “Meaning North’s. Of course, Ziz, I may be mistaken, so I’m not advertising this yet, but I can’t see a real scuffle in that room. To begin with, if a man—or two men—or three men, tried to kidnap Lawrence North and carry him off against his will don’t you suppose there would be enough noise madeeto wake some of us?” ‘* Maybe they chloroformed him.” ““ Maybe they did. But I’m working on comiclboooks C©