The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-04-28
The Deadly Decoy.

IHTOuSu the open uOOT.
The Deadly Decoy.
If David Manley was blindly and I'M
reasonably happy, all that day and the
next, he succeeded in keeping his hap
piness to himself 1t was not a
propitious time. he knew. for the air
ins of emotions so essentially per-
sonal There was still a shadow over
the house of Golden. shadow which
gave small promise of passing away
until fate or accident ended the activ-
tiles of one Jules Legar. There was,
too, a shadow in Manley's heart, a
shadow of doubt as to how far he
was justified in accepting Margery
Golden's words as he had accepted
them. So as he talked with her the
following day he was conscious OF a
vague constraint which reminded him
there were still reservations to be re-
spected and condolences to be with
held.
This was brought keenly home to
Manley as Wilson carried in to the
note which she opened and read in
silence. That this note brought a
somewhat disturbing message to her
was only too evident. And whatever
that message, it was equally evident,
she intended to keep it to herself.
mo bad news, / hope?" remarked
Manley, rather dejectedly studying her
face
Not altogether" was the girls eva
sive reply.
Margery Golden smiled a little as
she folded up the note. She was still
smiling as she tore the paper in two,
again and still again. One small piece
of that paper futtered from her fingers
and fell half way between her and the
still frowning young secretary. He
stared down at it cautiously, almost
sullenly. Then his eyes slowly
widened. for clearly inscribed on that
scrap of paper he saw one-half of the
sign of the Laughing Mask.
She then walked slowly across to
the open fire and tossed into it the
note which she had already torn into
fragments.
Manley stood watching her as she
ordered Train and the limousine and
then called for her hat and coat. He
had much to say, but for once he saw
that silence was golden.
The moment he was alone, however,
he quickly crossed to the fireplace,
dropped down on his hands and knees,
and there peered closely at the
charred remnants of the note which
had been tossed on the Goals.
Three or four of the fragments he
even rescued with the help of brass
fire shovel. He turned them about
delicately and studied them patiently.
On one he deciphered the words you
will come" On another he managed
to make out "am ILL.," The only re-
naming portion of uncurled carbon on
which he could discover any trace of
writing had lost it's center. But on
what remained of it he could read
"63 Washi-re"
"63 Washington Squsre!" he an /
announced. And five minutes later |!
found him seated in a taxicab.
He had just crossed Fourteenth !
street. sweeping south. when he caught !
sight of the Golden limousine, empty |
with the exception of Train at the /
wheel, sweeping northwest.
This disturbing discovery, once he
had reached the square. took him up !
the stone steps of ruinous mansion /
long given over to artists studios and ,
workshops of a meaner order.
He had climbed three flights of !
stairs, and climbed them with all the |
stealthiness of q fiat looter. when he |
came to a door which held out more |
promise than the others. For behind