Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

SHELBY’S HEAD-ON CRASH. 59 Thornton’s dismissal from the service would not have carried Osborne’s dismissal: In fact, now that it occurred to Shelby, Os- borne would probably have stepped into Thornton’s shoes if Thornton had been dis- charged. It was rather queer. “Why did you lie about that order, Os- borne?” Shelby asked. A maddening, supercilious smile came to Osborne’s lips. He thrust his face slightly forward. As Shelby looked into his eyes he saw that they were hard eyes, cruel, set a little too close together. ““Why should I lie about it?” Osborne asked. ‘‘ What had I to gain by saying Thornton didn’t send the order to your I thought at first you were only careless. Now I see you’re a damned fool.” The reiteration of the charge against him was the last straw for Shelby. His rage burned up in him consumingly. He lost all his judgment. Osborne was a big- ger man than he was. He had lied about him, and now he called him a fool. Let him take his medicine. During this Drake, who was the only one who might have interfered, had been listening, hoping that, in their anger, one of the men would say something which would clear up the mystery. Drake was not altogether convinced that Shelby had forgotten the order. But he had to abide by the fact that the evidence had been against Shelby. He was not prepared for the violence of Shelby’s next act. Shelby set himself on his feet and his right fist suddenly shot up against Osborne’s jaw. It was the blow of a man who kept himself in good physical condition. The contact was perfect. Os- borne dropped. To a raging man swift victory is inflam- ing. Shelby stepped back and turned to the group near the door. “‘ Maybe some of the rest of you would like a little of this,” he said. The others stood silent before his red wrath. Osborne was getting slowly to his feet. The flame of Osborne’s anger was burning as hotly as Shelby’s. He stood an instant, waiting for his head to clear, then he moved toward Shelby with his hands up. But before he could strike the door of the super’s office was thrown open. There was a quick step back of Osborne. He was thrust aside as if he had been a child. Shelby wheeled about. He faced Silent Simpson. Simpson laid a heavy hand: on Shelby’s arm and his fingers bit into Shelby’s flesh. “That’s enough, youngster,” Simpson said quietly. ‘“ You better come with me and take the air.” “I won’t do it,” Shelby cried. going to settle this thing right now.’ He struggled to free himself, Dat Simp- son only stepped behind him, took hold of his other arm, and pushed Him toward the door. Despite his resistance, Shelby found himself at the head of the stairs. “Go right along down,” Simpson said. “ T'll be at your heels. I don’t think it will get you anything to try to fight with me.” Shelby knew that. Besides, he trusted Simpson. Simpson’s record was as clear as glass. There was not a drop of dishonesty in him. Shelby understood his interference was prompted by good sense. He went slowly down the stairs and out into the summer sunshine. Simpson came out be- hind him. “What ’re you going to do now?” Simp- son asked. “T don’t know,” Shelby answered. “I’ve got to look for a job.” “Tf I were you I'd stick around for a while and keep in touch with me,” Simpson suggested. ‘What do you mean, asked. ‘Just what I say. There may be some- thing doing in this thing presently.” ‘I didn’t forget that order, Silent,” Shel- by broke out. ‘“‘ Thornton didn’t send it to me. Do you think I wouldn’t stand the gaff if I had got an order and failed to de- liver it? Do you think I would destroy it and say I had never received it?” “IT don’t think you would,” Simpson said. “You think Bhomton forgot to send the order, then?’” ** Stick around and a in touch with me,” Simpson said. ‘ Here’s my phone number. Call me up to-night.” He scribbled the number on the page of cc TV’m Silent?” Shelby COMmiclboo SS C©