Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-27
The Argyle Case 0s s,S @l Ei Bc" w P11I''S
By J. w MCoNAUGHY


night'-his voice trembled slightly that
night we had fine time. She was as
happy as could be about it-because
father and 1 were on good terms again.
she went to her room early and left
us here to have a talk"
Kayton's face betrayed absolutely
nothing Of any impression he may have
gained from this little tale
Did your father seem worried about
anything he asked. Bruce thought for
a moment. and replied;
He had a telephone call that disturbed
him a good deal while l was here"
What time was it?"
"Why-about 10"
Did he receive 1t himsef?"
The Telephone Call.
Yes, he was called on his private wire
right here Argyle indicated the desk
phone
What did he say?"
II can't remember" replied the young
man. slowly, except that it was he and
yes and no I thought it was some of
his business affairs, and he seemed to
want to think II over so | left soon after
Where did you spend the nght?' in
qured the detective.
In my studio-where / live"
How did you get there-a taxi?"
mo, l walked"
when did it begin to rain?"
Rain echoed Argyle, 81 didn't know
it did rain"
Did any one see you go into your
studio?"
Not that know Of" replied the young
man. with a shake Of the head.
ANY one drop in on you during the
EVENING""
No"
Kayton studied the floor gravely for
moment and then asked:
'Is there any one In the surrounding
apartments that could have seen you or
your Light"
We'll" said Argyle, douhtfully, you
know | have the rear of a top floor In an
old Twenty third street house with a sky
light"
Didn't you hear the rain on your sky
light" demanded Kayton. swiftly.
IT tell you didn't know it rained," de
Jared the young man with some peevsh-
ness. The best nerves and Cleanest con-
science feel the effect Of this sort of an
examination. Il go to bed early" he eX-
planned, and l get up as soon as there's
light enough to work"
Mr. Kayton" interposed the lawyer,
telephone MESSAGE"
Kayton stared at the lawyer for mo-
ment or two as if he had never seen him
before His abstraction seemed complete
| Then his eyes slowly returned to Argyle's
and he said slowly:
"Then you don't know of any way in
which you can corroborate your statement
| that you left here about 10 o'clock and
| spent the rest Of the night in your studio "
Bruce was silent and Kayton waited.
Mono. l don't" said the young man
: in a low voice
Nobody saw you. YOU think-nobody
saw you leave here?"
Again there was the barest hesitation
and the low voice.
| Mono"
Breaking Argyle Down.
you didn't see F1nley?" Kayton's eyes
were on the young mans face with pierre
| ing keenness, as if to read unspoken an
| swers.
No. l didn't see Finley at all" This
answer came swiftly, as the detective ex-
| pected ii would. He shrugged his Shout
ders and half turned away.
| Mr.. Argyle" he said coldly, 81 don't
want to be put in the position of cross
examining you II you are not going tc
I
ter for me to drop the whole matter right
here"
Argyle flushed slightly and his eyes
shifted
''Well-F'--he began.
| las a matter of fact" broke in Kay,
ton abruptly, ''just who was 1t that yol
| thought you saw"
Argyle's uneasiness increased well,
don't want to say that | saw any one,
he said, reluctantly
You understand" said Kayton. with
stern frown, that it might be very i'm
portant that some one should have seel
you leave this house"
"Oh-I see we'll" the young man de
clared with the air of man doing al
extremely unpleasant duty, II though
as I was going out that saw somebod,
looking over the banster rail"
What made you look up at the ban
lister rail?" demanded Kaytou suppress
Ing any trace of elation.
II suppose l must have heard some
thing, conceded Argyle, grudgingly.
WAS II Miss Mazuret2"
Was IT Miss Mazuret?" The question
! was almost a command
The young man WINGED. 1T Nigh
have been one OF the maids" he parted
why didn't you speak to her."
I wasn't sure-and she drew back
Look here, Hurley He wheeled ol
the lawyer with a glare. You ueedn'
give this to the papers, God knows wha
they'd make of IT. They'd have Mar,
up there just waiting to-"
Nov, my dear fellow, don't be alb
surd,' interrupted the lawyer, testify
THE thing that strikes me as most sig
niticant in all this is the telephone mes
sage, Don't you thing SO. Mr. Kayton?"
q kayton faced him with a direcY. leve
gaze.
What do YOU sec significant in it, n
inquired.
MIR, Hurley ddgcted slightly He die
not like the way in which his words ver
caught up every time
well. now, III tell you about that.
he declared. You see, the person VIII,
called him up must have known his pri
vate telephone number. That would lnd
cate some one who was familiar with tn,
) house and
'Nes'' said kayton encouragingly, al
the lawyer paused.
q