“No,” snapped Gray. “I’m not. But I can promise that much.”
“All those who have made mysteries of themselves so far,” observed Cunningham grimly, “have offered me money. What do you offer?”
Gray stopped short. He seemed to realize for the first time just what sort of a predicament Cunningham was in, hopelessly at sea regarding the motives of every person in the extraordinary triangle.
“Advice,” he said soberly after an instant. “I’ll offer you advice. That girl is devilish pretty and I heard what you said to her. And it’s insanity to say it, but—either avoid her entirely or marry her at once. And I mean at once! I’ve a reason for warning you.”
And just as he put his hand on the knob of the door there was a scream on the ground outside. Maria had screamed. There was a crashing of glass, and as Cunningham hurled himself to his feet a shot followed, which was sickeningly loud and reverberated horribly in the stillness.
Then Vladimir’s voice came purringly from a spot near by, as if he were gloating to himself, “Ha! I got her!”
9
Start of Part 2 (April, 1928 Weird Tales magazine)
