Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

366 ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. the spontaneity of youth. He wore a brown. suit, a gray flannel shirt, and Stetson hat— the common apparel of the country. “Who the devil are you? And what are you butting in here for?” he exclaimed with a vicious spark showing in his pale/ blue eyes. At the same time he clapped a hand on Weir’s shoulder, closing it in a hard grasp. Instantly Weir struck the hand off with his fist. “Keep your dirty flippers to yourself,” he said, rising. The blood faded from the other’s coun- tenance, leaving it white with rage. “Get out of this booth, or I'll throw you out.” It was Weir’s turn to act. Like.a flash he caught Sorenson’s elbow, jerked him for- ward, spun him about, and dropped him upon the chair. “Sit there, you cradle-robber, until I’m through with you,” he commanded. “ And df you don’t want everybody in this res- taurant to know about your business with this girl, you'll lower your voice when you talk.” Sorenson shot an uneasy ‘glance toward the curtain, and his wrath became not less durious, but better controlled. Clearly pub- lic’ attention was the last thing he desired in this affair. He leaned back, staring at Steele Weir insolently, and produced a cigarette, at which he began to puff. “Mary, get ready. We'll be going in a minute,” said he. “No, you'll not, Sorenson. Ive taken a hand in your game. This girl says you’re going to marry her—is that right?” The other rolled his eyes upward and began to whistle a jig tune softly. ‘‘ Well, this is the plan she and I’ve made: She'll re- main at the hotel to-night—as will you and I—and to-morrow we'll drive to another county-seat in my car and you'll secure a license there. Then you'll go to a min- ister’s, where I’ll act as a witness, and the ceremony will be performed. Afterward the pair of you can proceed to Los Angeles, or elsewhere, as you please, on your wedding journey.” “You're quite a little planner, aren’t ‘you?”’ the other jeered. “ That’s the arrangement if you agree.” “T don’t agree.’ _Mary Johnson, in whose eyes a light of hope had dawned during Weir’s low-toned statement, began nervously to bite her lip. “Won’t you do it, Ed?” she asked, timidly. “We'll do as I planned, or nothing,” he stated. Then with sudden spite he con- tinued: ‘“‘ You’re responsible for this mix- up. What did you let this fellow in here for while I was gone? Didn’t you have sense enough to keep your mouth shut?” Steele halted him by a gesture. “Don’t begin abusing her; you're not matried to her yet. I overheard your talk and saw the low-lived, scoundrelly trick you proposed to play on her.” “You damned eavesdropper—”’ “Sure, eavesdropper is right,” Weir in- terrupted coolly. ‘So I just stepped in’ here from my booth next door ‘to discuss the situation with her; you can’t mislead an innocent girl like this with the intention of shaking her when you get her into a city, not if-I know about it and am around. If you sincerely intend to marry her, and will do so to-morrow in my presence, then Tl withdraw. Afterward I mean, of course.” Sorenson arose. “Come, Mary.” Then to Weir: “ Stand aside, you!” * She doesn’t go with you,” the engineer stated. For a moment the men’s eyes locked— those of one full of blue fire and hatred, those of the other quiet as pieces of flint. “And she shall go with me while I tele- phone to your father that you brought her here under promise of marriage, a girl of six- teen. without her own parents’ consent, and that you now refuse to marry her,”’ Steele added. A sneer twisted the other man’s mouth. “My father happens to be in the East, where he’s been for a month,” he mocked. “Tf he was here, he wouldn’t believe you; he’d know you were & liar. He knows Tm engaged to marry—” Bite off the words as he tried, ee had escaped. ‘Ah, that’s the way of it!” Weir re- Conmicooolk<Snceomnn