Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

760 one, it doesn’t greatly matter whether it has a ton of bricks more or less. The point is this: That old woman, Sophronia Heron- dene, seems to have nearly all the money there is in the world, and she’s dumping it, in carload lots, wherever it will do us the most harm. Without that outflow of her money, the opposition would collapse. And that outflow is what has to be stopped.” ‘““By appeal to Sophronia Herondene?”’ asked Horton, rallying sufficiently to essay a sneer in his turn. “Is that the way you mean to try and stop her activities? I tried that—once.” “| know you did. You went about it in the wrong way—of course. But just be- cause you made a mess of things, it doesn’t follow that I will. And it’s I who’ll make the next attempt. Old Sophronia is shrewd in her way, but after all, she’s only a wom- an. I'll offer the same compromise you would have offered if little Peggy Heron- dene hadn’t started in to bean you with a broomstick or something. If old Sophronia will accept that compromise—why, well and good. If not—” He finished his sentence by clenching the fingers of one hand and pointing downward with its extended thumb. Horton turned pale, for it was the gesture that meant only one thing—death. “‘ Great heavens!” cried Horton, dabbing at his forehead, clammy with cold sweat. “You can’t mean—” 5 “You know well enough what I mean,” interrupted Dunning, contemptuously. “And, in one way or another, it goes, if necessary, not only for old Sophronia, but for the whole accursed family. We won’t go into details, if the subject frightens you as badly as it seems to do. You stay here; I’m starting now. The old woman ought to be back at the hotel by this time.” Dunning thereupon departed. His sur- mise was correct; Aunt Sophronia had re- turned to her hotel when he reached it. But she had returned only a moment before. It is hardly to be wondered at that Aunt Sophronia was somewhat overcome by her late exertions. When an elderly lady of New England birth and upbringing, unim- peachable position and hitherto impeccable life suddenly begins to violate the laws of + 27 ‘ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. her country in so active a manner that she is pursued by armed men, some little reac- tion is inevitable. In the present instance the homeopathic dose of cordial that she had taken did not seem to have the desired restorative effect, but to Phelim’s urgent solicitations that she should repeat the dose she returned an em- phatic negative. As an alternative he sug- gested that she should go to her room and lie down for a while. Therefore, he gave the necessary orders to her chauffeur, and without waiting for permission, climbed resolutely after her into the car, in order that she might not be alone in case of sud- den illness during her journey. Understanding Phelim’s motives, Aunt Sophronia made no objections to his com- pany, though she had not the faintest inten- tion of becoming ill, suddenly or otherwise. In order to demonstrate this fact, she sat rigidly upright until the hotel was reached and nimbly descended without assistance. Mike Kilrannon, waiting in one of the red-plush chairs that adorned the hotel lobby, rose as Aunt Sophronia entered. She beckoned to him, so that he followed her to the desk. “ Did you notice, Mr. Brown,” she asked the hotel clerk, “‘ just what time it was when this man came in here and asked for me?” “It so happens that I did, Miss Heron- dene,” the clerk replied. “ He came just as the passengers from the seven forty-eight train arrived. That would make it between five and ten minutes past eight.” With a word of thanks to the clerk, Aunt Sophronia then addressed herself to Kil- rannon. “ Michael,” said she. ‘ To-morrow morning I want you to go and see Mr. Jack Ayres, who will be at Phelim O’Rourke’s. I need a man to look out for some interests of mine out in the Township, and I think the position will be just the thing for you. The pay’ll be more than you’ve been get- ting. But Mr. Jack will give you the par- ticulars, Michael, for I find that I’m very tired, and so I think [’ll go upstairs.” Kilrannon left her, sputtering thanks so _ enthusiastic as to be somewhat incoherent. Aunt Sophronia sighed with satisfaction, for Go NOOKS AUUG (C@