Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

sw back the white cloth and bent a Costa, without disturbing any- ere was evidently a struggle,” said at once. ‘“‘ His clothes have been ip a good deal—that’s plain. He his assailant—or began the fight _ That seems to preclude the possibility of its having been a woman,” added Garry _ “ Maybe.” ‘Silvers was noncommittal. “I have known women to put up a pretty good struggle—at times!” _ Garry made no answer to this; he was examining Da Costa’s clothes. __ “No pockets in the trousers; they fit bet- _ ter without,” he observed. “A wallet in __ his coat—some silver—three keys—hand- kerchiefs. That’s all!” “The keys might tell us something if we can find out anything about them!” said Silvers. “ Anything in the wallet?” “Money,” said Garry, investigating. *““ Cards—that’s all!” They looked at each other. ce Well?” “Well?” “I suppose if one knew about finger- _ prints the knife might tell us something,” _ mused Garry. “ But my education stops _ short there.” He covered the body with the cloth again and stood up. ‘“‘ We’d bet- ter see what the maid and the check-room silvers went to the door and called the woman by name, and she appeared prompt- ly. It was clear that she had been antici- ting the summons and was reveling in - sudden importance the tragedy had arred upon her. She was only too ” said Silvers, “‘ you know what much,” said Ada, nen the gen- " : the You'd lie for her!” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. only be must have been nearer, because was here first!” i * You heard no unusual sound room before the scream?” askenm —— “Well, no, sir. Im not save were no sounds! But with iendine ® he here—and taking a stitch there—as the ladies come up for repairs and the like— why—I wasn’t paying much attention to anything outside my own room. And then the noise downstairs, and the band and all, I never heard a sound till I heard the scream; but that was so shrill and so kind of hurt and awful—it just went through me —and brought me out almost in spite of myself, you might say!” “‘ Did you hear or see Da Costa when he came up?” asked Silvers. “NO, sir. I heard nothing but the Scream, until he went through the room searching like as if he was expecting to find the young lady, and called ‘ Katherine! Katherine!’ twice, like that—and then I heard a kind of dull thud in the Turkish room, and in he came carrying her—and her as white as the cloth, there—and in a faint, looking as if she was dead herself.” ““ Miss Kendall was in the Turkish room?” asked Silvers. “Yes, sir—if that was her name. She was in there hiding, most like, for he had to call twice before he saw her.” ““ And nobody else was here?” “Only Mark, from the men’s room. He came when I did!” “Well,” said Silvers slowly, “ if that is all you can tell us, go back to your post, and send in Mark. But, remember—not 2 word of this to any one!” ‘No, sir,” she answered, nodding, and passed out. “ This is bound to be awkward for Miss Kendall if it has to go to the police,” said Silvers, as the door closed behind her. “ Unpleasant — that’s all. But beastly unpleasant! I can testify that she was here only a second before she screamed. She had just left me, you see, and I was walt ing on the stairs for her!” , “But your testimony—” said Silvers, with a shake of his head. “ You love her. “at nee d be,” admittec Garry, sin comicbooks.com