Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

148 ered and the hard line of his mouth bore evidence to suppressed impatience. Twen- ty minutes passed before any one ap- proached the room. Then he heard feet in the passage, the key was turned in the lock, and Farley entered. The captain was more visibly perturbed than was his prisoner. He looked around the room. “We will make things a little more com- fortable here to-morrow, Kent,’ he said. “ That is, Barker will. I am going right on to the junction to-night to wire headquar- ters and Judge Robson, and send down the men who are at the post. Those men out- Side are in a bad mood. I don’t understand it. I spoke to them and quieted them down, so you are safe so long as you remain here under a guard. They trust my word, and I have promised not to move you from this house until the day of the trial.” “T thought my Mooseyard friends seemed anxious to make a warm demon- stration of welcome,” Victor smiled. “ I’m afraid their feelings are easily played with. But don’t worry, captain—I shall be safe enough. I have one request to make. Will you permit me to send a letter to be mailed at the junction by your own hand?” “Certainly; but I must read the letter. I shall be leaving in ten minutes.” He opened the door and called to Dave for paper and an envelope. When these were brought he unlocked the handcuffs that held Victor’s wrists, and gave him his fountain pen. He stood by the door while Victor hurriedly wrote a short note with the pad held upon his knee. Victor tore out the sheet and extended it to the cap- tain, who took it in silence. He read it twice, but could make nothing of it. He studied the envelope, which was by this time addressed. . “Well, I will mail it, Kent,” he said, “but it is a strange letter to be writing under the circumstances.”’ “Thanks, captain,” Victor replied. “ It will bring me help from a friend, though it appears futile to you. Another thing: from what you say I think that the trial will be hurried?” “In my wire to the judge I will make it plain that the preliminary hearing must be proceeded with at the earliest possible ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. date. That may be within five days. In- spector Dunne and Judge Robson should be here Saturday. I shall wait for them at the junction. In the mean time I have left instructions with Barker that he is to use his descretion in allowing you to receive visitors. Dave can be trusted, and I know that there are only certain people whom you will wish to see.” “They will not be many, Farley.” A minute later he was once more alone. The captain had assured him that he would escort Flora home and had wished him a formal good night. Beyond the thick ma- ple door Starling and Morrison stood guard, and for some time their voices running on in an unintelligible conversation, and the whisper of snowflakes brushing against the window-pane, were the only sounds that he heard. He settled himself to a position of some comfort on ‘the bed and breathed a sigh of enforced resignation. He yearned for his pipe, but evidently smoking was prohibited even in this excuse for a jail. It was hard for his active mind to realize that the plans to which he had devoted such careful thought, and in whose execu- tion his trained mind and hand had been so necessary, had reached a stage in their development where their progress could continue successfully while he was idly kicking his heels in prison. Yet.there was still an element of uncertainty, an unknown quantity in the equation that might upset his calculation. Edmund Scott had finished his evening meal, and from the library came the crackle and murmur of a wood fire that Julie had lighted for his comfort. He had lingered over his meal, though scarcely noticing the food the ate, for the long, silent evening was the period of the day which he dread- ed. Then it was that his thoughts were apt to get out of control and go wandering in prohibited territory. He heard muf- fled footsteps on the veranda, and the open- ing of the outer door, and he turned to es- cape from the room before any unwelcome visitor should catch him. But the ring of the door-bell that would bring Julie from the kitchen did not follow. He heard the handle of the door turned, and. his heart stood still. comicloool C©