Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

704 “Oh, they can, of course, but they won’t be so keen about it. Anyhow we'll lie un- der cover all day to-morrow, and, before the next morning breaks, we’ll be safe in the garage in Montebello. I know that town!” When they had been on the road a couple of hours Celesta, whose ears were continu- ally stretched in that direction, insisted that she heard sounds from the luggage compart- ment. Hal ran on until he came to a side road, a mere stony track that left the high- way and climbed the bank. Turning into it and mounting until they were out of sight of the main road, he stopped his car, and they got out. Pine trees hemmed them in on both sides of the narrow road, but the moon struck down a shaft of light between. Hal unscrewed the top of the luggage compartment and lifted it off. A tousled head and a bristling mustache rose into view with many groans. At first Roger could only hold his head between his hands and groan. “Father! Father!’ murmured Celesta, seeking to put her arms around him, But he impatiently pushed her away. He had not fully come to his senses yet. He began to curse in a low, thick voice. Sulphurous curses. Celesta gasped. “He doesn’t know what he’s saying,” Hal said quickly. “Better walk away a little.” Celesta with burning cheeks made haste to obey. Hal grasped Roger’s shoulder and shook him roughly. “Pull yourself together, man! Celesta is here. You don’t want her to hear such talk!” “ Oh, God! every inch of me is pounded to a jelly!” groaned Roger. “Stand up,” said Hal. “Tl help you out.” With many groans Roger was assisted to the ground, where he stood swaying under the pines in his flowered dressing-gown, an inch or two of pyjama leg showing below. His language was still lurid. “ Cut it out! Cut it out!” commanded Hal. “Who the hell are you?” demanded Roger suddenly. sé Bainton.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Bainton!” Roger stared. ‘‘ Where am I? What is this place? What has hap- pened?” “ Well, Campas got you out of jail,” said Hal, feeling rather foolish. For a moment or two Roger stared in si- lence. ‘Then the storm broke. What had gone before was mere preliminary rum- blings. Hal gazed anxiously in the direc- tion Celesta had taken. He could not see her. “You fool! You fool! You fool! You don’t know what you’ve done!” Such was the burden of the exasperated man’s cries. “You needn’t thank me for it,” said Hal grimly. “Thank you!” cried Roger. ‘ You fool, you’ve ruined me with your meddling! De- stroyed the work of years!” “What do you mean?” Hal demanded sharply. Roger suddenly pulled himself up. Turning his back on Hal, he vented his rage in impotent gestures and groaning oaths directed at the trees. Celesta suddenly appeared out of the gloom. “I couldn’t stay away,” she fal- tered. ‘‘ What’s the matter with him?” “ T don’t know,” Hal answered shortly. Celesta went and put her arm around Roger. “‘ Dear dad, aren’t you happy to be here with us?”’ she murmured. Roger laughed insanely, and Celesta shrank back dismayed. “What did they give him?” she gasped. “Oh, God! was any man ever so cursed with a pair of meddlesome young fools!” groaned Roger. Celesta tried again. murmured, Roger tried to pull himself together. Whatever had happened, his whole scheme of life still depended on his maintaining a noble character in the eyes of Celesta. But it was hard! ‘To be denied an outlet for his righteous anger hurt him worse than his bruises. He gave the appearance of a man awaking from a delirium. “ Daughter!” he murmured, holding out his arms. Celesta flung herself into them. The “ Father!” she scene made Hal exquisitely uneasy. ‘The - man’s part in it did not ring true. Hal AA CORMMICLOOOKS (C@)