Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

ae ail - again toward the covered body. bs 4 wallet with some bills in it and visit- ing cards,” said Silvers, shrugging; “ hand- kerchiefs and three keys. He was killed with one of my steak knives!” | Fielding looked up sharply. “Three keys?” he repeated. they ought to lead to something!” . Garry and Silvers exchanged a glance. “ How so?” asked Garry. “Why—one key probably unlocks the door of his apartment,”’ said Fielding, © and the other two keys might open Some chest or cupboard, there, that would reveal new evidence. - < Well— Let’s have a look at them: Silvers advanced toward the body again and threw back the covering. Joan turned aside. Fielding drew nearer, fascinated, gazing down in horror and loathing at the stiffening corpse. But the fat little man was too absorbed in saving himself from ruin to be upset by sentimental or super- stitious considerations. He fumbled in the dead man’s pockets and brought forth the flat leather key case with the three keys in it. Fielding took the case gingerly and re- garded the keys. ’ That’s his latchkey,” he said, picking it out. “‘ And that’s obviously the key to some cabinet or strong box. And that ’— he whistled‘ that’s also a front-door key! I wonder whose!” es CHARTER XI, ON A MISSION AT MIDNIGHT. “BT'S going to be a delicate mission—en- tering Da Costa’s apartments and searching his effects,” said Garry slow- ly. “ And yet I agree with Fielding, here, that it may be a swift and simple route to the identity of the murderer!” “It's the only thing to do,” agreed Sil- vers. “We're not making much progress here. At least, we haven’t found out much so far, and it looks to me like we’ve gone ___ 4s far as we can go!” sibly a it, since there seem to be no clews, How about your g said Garry. dias sos ene old : : ou! e asked J! . <>” repeated Fielding, glancing Fielding ™ "4 “ No clews: ep 53 sc Now?” repeated Garry, ‘hes é pe He was loath to leave the King ¢ while yet the mystery remained unst loath to leave Katherine in such jeopard’ “Sure, now!” insisted Silvers. 4 ‘ got to go through with this investigation oa far as we can go by ourselves—so long 25 we've started! And we haven’t got any too much time left before the guests will be wanting the doors opened! I'd be in a hell of a fix with the cops if I couldn't turn over the inurderer to them when I call them in to take charge of the body—-and I’m not intending to get into any more trouble than I’m in! When I open those doors at day- break, I’m going to hold somebody for this murder! I’ve got to—that’s all!” He stood over the body of Da Costa—a sinister little figure—and looked down at it. The body was still uncovered—and a ghast- ly sight it was. Rigor mortis had begun— the jaw had dropped—the eyes had set and were staring glassily. “ Somebody killed this chap!” he said grimly. ‘ Somebody in this house to-night. We’ve found two people who might have done it. Miss Kendall—and Miss Olcott, here! Maybe they’re both innocent! 1 don't know! But you can go gamble on this: If I haven't got any more conclusive evidence by dawn, I'm going to turn both these women over to the police!” The others stared at him. Garry and Fielding were speechless; Joan caught her breath with a little smothered gasp. ‘““Now, you're in this to save the Ken- dall girl,” he went on, turning to Garry, ‘and you’re trying to save Joan Olcott,” he added, to Fielding. “ Well—you can both go to Da Costa’s rooms together—and look about: If you find evidence there that Ml settle this thing fine! If you don’t ~ you'll come back and say so, because I'm going to hold both women here till you come back: And meanwhile, you'll kind of watch each other!” , ; The eyes of the two men met, apprai a ingly, challengingly. y “ This thing is no game to me, see? comicbooks we