Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

854 searching that stillness for sounds of an outer world. ‘There seemed to be none; far away, so far that it might have floated down from another planet, she caught the faintest hint of a street car gong. That was all—and the only sound inside the wretched little hovel was the uneasy scuffing of Nick’s feet, out in the hall. ‘ So Miss Carson was at liberty to lay out her collected data on the situation and select whatever bits she found helpful. A girl named Ramsey, too generously, had presented her with a kidnaping. What Ramsey might that be? Myra reflected upon the homes of the very rich, pointed out by the well-informed Daisy from a bus top; she recalled no Ramsey among them. And it was an abduction which involved no ran- som for the villains, which was another queer bit. Why should one steal a beauti- ful and wealthy maiden if not for the money thereby to be gained? Myra did not know. Further, speculating upon it just now was rather fruitless. She shifted restlessly and turned her thoughts into channels more easily navigable. What had become of the dark person and the stolen car? He had been gone almost the full specified fifteen minutes now. And who was the “ he” with whom a conversa- tion had been so necessary? As to that, there was no way of guessing; but as to the dark person himself—well, if there was an alarm out for the car, as there must be, it really began to look as if he might have been taken in by uniformed authority. And then what, reverting to Myra’s own case? Well, for the one and only thing, she meant to leave this shack. Aye, even though it became necessary for her to scream until her throat burst, to fight them until— “‘He’s been gone more than fifteen min- utes!” Myra said suddenly. ‘“‘'Wotjer say, miss?” Joseph asked with a start. ‘‘ That—that don’t mean nothing! Maybe he had a—a breakdown or a blow- out. Y’ gotter allow for that. He don’t know much about cars, anyhow, and—”’ ‘ All that doesn’t interest me a particle. I promised to be quiet for fifteen minutes and the time’s up now.” “Well, lady, listen! Don’t start noth- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ing. Give him a chance. Any guy can have trouble with a car.” Miss Carson arose and drew the won- derful fur coat about her. Joseph also arose, and Nick paused in the doorway to stare at them. “True, and I have no real desire to ‘start’ anything, but I’m leaving never- theless,” the captive said sweetly. ‘So wouldn’t it be just as well to let me walk out without any more nonsense?”’ ‘“'Y’ couldn’t—not alone!” Joseph cried, with a touch almost of agony. “ Not in this neighborhood, kid. Why, y’ got no idea what a neighborhood this is. Near every night somebody’s—hey, listen!”’ His face glowing sudden relief, he held up a hand. And from the distance came the whine of the big car, nearer and nearer. Miss Carson merely stood and waited, with an eagerness almost equal to Joseph’s. Something told her that now, after the most amazing and outrageous evening of her life, she was leaving! The. briskness of the steps outside, as the car stopped, fostered this notion, too. The dark man hurried in, no longer the worried person who had left a little while ago—al- though he was not beaming as one should beam who bears good news. He smiled slightly and very grimly, and that was all. “D’je git him?” Jeseph queried. — “T got him!” the leader snapped. ‘ Get on your coat. We’re moving now!” “You mean—” Miss Carson began. ‘Ever been t’ Melford Manor, lady?” the dark one asked briskly. “The suburb—in Westchester? No.” “‘ Where the rich guys live. Youw’re go- ing there now!” supplemented the leader, and proffered her hat with an extremely businesslike jab. ‘‘ Get that on, lady, and make it snappy, please! We wanter get started.” Miss Carson opened her eyes and regard- ed him coldly. ‘“‘ But I haven’t the slightest intention of going to Melford Manor or anywhere else, except back to the Aldean, you know,’’ she explained serenely. ‘‘I thought you un- derstood that? You’ll have to—” “ Cut it, kid, cut it!” the leader of the band barked disappointingly. ‘‘ You had comicloool C©