Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

q y JHE WAY OF despite what had happened between them, that he had come nearer to loving the man than he had ever come to loving any man, his father excepted. Therefore, he felt no resentment toward Gibson. Gibson had merely expressed the things that he himself had felt. And yet Cameron had no intention of vielding to Gibson’s demand. As a matter of fact, he felt that aiter the first edge had worn off Gibson’s resentment, he would realize that there had been no other way. None of Ballantine’s friends would think dispassionately now, and their reason was shot through with barbs of prejudice. 3 Cameron walked back to his desk and stood there for an instant, staring thought- fully down at its top. Then he crossed the room, to Miss Fargo’s desk. “You say Baxter was conscious,” he re- marked quietly. ‘ Did he have anything to say concerning the identity of the men who attacked him?” ‘“ He was certain of one,” answered Miss Fargo. “ Gideon Strong. He says he can’t be mistaken, for he saw his face when Strong lit a match. He did not see another man.” Cameron said no more. He walked to the rack, put on his hat and coat, buckled his cartridge belt around his waist, went out, mounted White Star and rode to the hitch-~ ing rack in front of the City Hotel. A few minutes later he was talking to Baxter, who repeated to him what he had told Miss Fargo. Cameron descended to the street. He stood for-a little while in front of the hotel. Then he saw Gideon Strong on the sidewalk near the livery stable. Strong was walking eastward, toward the bank, and by making something of an effort Cameron caught up with him before he reached the latter building. He fell into step with Strong. Strong, after a furtive, startled glance into Cameron’s face, looked straight ahead. His cheeks had taken on a mottled appear- ance; he breathed heavily. Quickening his step, and still giving no indication that he knew Cameron was walk- ing at his side, he walked into the open THE BUFFALO, 101 dcorway of the bank and halted before the cashier’s window. He did not look around, but he knew Cameron was behind him, watching him. Strong had been walking toward the bank with the intention of drawing some money ior his daily expenses. But now, as he stood before the window he was beset with a sharp suspicion, a sudden fear. When he had seen Cameron beside him on the sidewalk the fear had first gripped him, and it had grown until now it seemed to have taken possession of all his faculties. His legs appeared to have lost all sense of feeling, his hands were shaking; he was aware that his mouth was open and that he did not seem to be able to close it. He was dismayed by Cameron’s silence. He knew Cameron had learned something about what had happened to Baxter, but he did not know how much Cameron knew. Had Baxter regained consciousness? Had Baxter talked? And if Baxter had talked how much had he been able to tell Cameron? Had Bax- ter recognized him in the light from the flare of the match? | These questions Strong could not answer. However, they tortured him as he stood in front of the cashier’s window, they became very important, they were drummed insis- tently into his ears by an inner veice that would not be denied. What did Cameron know? This seemed to be the chief question. He did not dare to turn around and face Cameron lest the latter see the guilt in his eyes, in his flushed face. Cameron knew something. But how much? Or was Cameron bluffing, hoping that if he kept silent and pretended to be “wise” he could find out something that would confirm a suspicion? It was curious how- greatly he feared Cameron! He could net understand it. He was bigger than Cameron; he felt certain he was stronger. Of course, Cameron had once knocked him down, but that had been more or less of an accident. He had not expected Cam- eron to hit him, he had been taken un- awares. And yet the blow had been a terrible one. MICOOOKS (c©) CO