Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

282 “Your sister?” said the doctor, looking up from his task. “ Beatrice Marney. She’s fainted. I took her in there—away out of it all. I brought you here first—because he’s wounded, you see—but she’s got trouble enough, too. If I’m to po with this po- liceman, will you do that an’ do it quick?” The doctor looked staggered. But he was physician first, and man afterward. “*T will see to it.” Stephen found himself out on the land- ing. The door closed behind him. “Hold up!” said the sergeant, catching him by the arm. Stephen had swayed sud- denly, like a drunken man. His legs nearly gave way under him. “ All right,” he said faintly. ‘“ Yes, I’m a bit done; but [I’m ready for you.” The sergeant looked into his face, and led him firmly but not ungently through the open door into the front room, and took him to a chair. “Sit there,” he said, and, closing the door, the sergeant took a survey of the apartment, the damaged window and carpet, picked up the revolver, opened the breech and gianced at it. ‘“‘ Whose pistol is this?” he said cartly. “T guess it’s Piers Marney’s. I’ve seen it before.” “ Did you see that man shot?” ce No.”’ “Were you here when Sir Piers was at- tacked?” “ No. pened.” ‘You know the man that’s shot? is he?” “ Richard Maxon—my greatest friend.” Stephen was recovering himself. And with redoubled emphasis Richard’s warn- ing came back to him—to say nothing more than was necessary until he knew where he stood. For he was quite in the dark as to what Beatrice’s share in the tragedy was. She had told him nothing. ‘“ What was he doing here, and who shot him?” “TY can’t answer for Maxon. The first thing I saw when I came in, he was lying en the floor wounded. I supposed Piers Marney shot him.” 1 came in just after it hap- Who ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Give an account of yourself,” said the sergeant sharply; “ and { warn you to be careful. How came you here, and what was your business at the house?” “T1l tell you exactly what I did see, and at present I don’t know much more than you do. How I came across the madman from the marshes is a long story, and I suppose you don’t want it now. What I did know was that he meant coming here to do Piers Marney a mischief, for he told me so plain enougi—the man was raving. I followed to prevent him. And I was too late. He got to the house first—I suppose he saw Piers in this room from below, or heard his voice, and came right up. When 1 got here there was nobody in the room but Maxon and my sister. When we'd done what we could for Maxon—” “Your sister! What do you mean?” “Tm Stephen Marney—Sir Neville’s son,” said Stephen quietly, “and nephew to Piers. Got that?” “ Either you are as mad as the man you came here with, or else you’re lymg very stupidly,” said the sergeant sternly. ‘“ Do you take me for a fool?” “Not any. With the exception of the doctor, you’re the first intelligent man I’ve met to-day,” said Stephen. “I’m givin’ you the cold truth, but just at the moment I suppose it don’t matter much who I am. To get on with it—there was a flunky had ‘been in; I sent him for the doctor and the police. I cleared Maxon an’ my sister out of this room, having no one to help me; for both of them had got all they could stand—I couldn’t leave ’em lying about the floor. Then I spent three minutes ringin’ up Lawyer Whitehouse on the phone, and told him to come right along here, Piers bein’ dead.” “Mr. Whitehouse, of Colchester?” ex- claimed the sergeant. “Yes. He said he’d burn the ground, an’ if his car can move I should say he71l be here in about twenty minutes. I think you're wastin’ time over me; but, of course, I’m in your hands.” The sergeant stared at him dumbly. What he would have said is uncertain, for at that moment the doctor opened the door. comiclbooolx C©