Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

B80 ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. are not acquainted with the circumstances or facts as you, Mr. Martinez, and I know them; they apparently didn’t appear until the crowd started away with the dead man. Yet at once—” ““ Aye, at once,” Steele Weir let slip. “At once, immediately, when they had barely heard the story, they began to tear “it to pieces and suggest another, making you out a villain. You’re only an ac- quaintance, sir, scarcely more than a stran- ger, but as I listened it outraged my sense of justice. Mr. Sorenson, of all men! My brain was in a whirl. But it’s steady now.” The engineer failed to open his lips at her pause. “Tm no fool, Mr. Weir; I think of other things besides dressing my hair and using a powder puff. I can sometimes put two and two together—when I see the ‘ twos ’ clear- ly. Now, tell me why Mr. Sorenson talked _ ‘as he did, for I must have my eyes clear.” “Ask me anything but that, Miss Hosmer.” He sat distressed and uneasy at her pro- longed muteness. Suddenly she questioned quietly: “Are those two men the enemies you spoke of?” “Tt will save me embarrassment if I go,” he remarked, starting to rise. “I don’t want you to hate me, you know; and yet I can’t say anything.” Her grasp pulled him imperatively back. “You shall not go yet.” ‘’Then I can oniy continue to decline making answers. I frankly say that I re- gret having uttered a word of explanation.” ‘““T don’t regret it. And I intend to keep questioning you, however rude you may think me, I must know,’ she cried im- petuously, “and I shall know! Mr. Soren- son is one of the men you referred to, or he would never seek to direct suspicion at you. I saw the look on your face, sir, as he spoke. But why should you two be enemies? You come here, a stranger, to San Mateo. Or have you been here before some time? Did you know him before?” Again he could feel her eyes straining at him. “Tt seems mad to think of him and Mr. Burkhardt, and perhaps others, hiring some one to shoot you down from a dark door- way. It is utterly mad—crazy. But why should they want to convict you, in the crowd’s opinion at least, of murdering the man? It would not be just trouble about the dam—oh, no. I can’t see through it at all. _Why won’t you tell me? You can trust me—and IJ want to help you as well as help myself. You certainly don’t hold against me my silly nonsense and unkind words of the day you brought me home from the ford.” “T didn’t think them silly; they de- lighted me,” he responded. ‘“ I hadn’t had an i happen to me so refreshing in years.” “We must be friends. Something tells me they're going to make you trouble over this shooting, and you'll need friends.” “Something tells me you’re right in both respects,” he laughed.’ ‘And friends must stick together.” ‘““"That’s what they should do.” In the dusk of the vine-clad, flower- scented place where they sat he experi- enced the subtle power of this intimacy. Not a soul stirred in the empty, nsoonlit street before the house. No sounds dis- turbed the warm peace of the night. Only there ran in this secluded spot the murmur of their voices. \ “IT could never stand by and see any man unjustly accused and defamed if I knew he was innocent, without lifting up my voice in defense,” she proceeded. “ But let me ask if on your side you're treating me fairly?” Weir could have groaned. ‘““You have a noble spirit, Miss Hosmer. You’re more courageous and kind than any girl I’ve ever known. Would you have me reveal what my best judgment tells me should remain untold?” “But what of me? Would you keep it to yourself if my future happiness might turn on it?” The appeal in her words shook Steele’s heart. “How does this business affect your hap- piness? How?” he asked, in perplexity. Now it was her turn to hesitate. Why should she pause, indeed, before telling to this man what every one else knew? Yet = Comicbooks:com