Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

~ be so hypocritical. “Tm glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Pendleton,” the judge rejoined. “Come in, if you will excuse my appear- ance. We can talk better.” . She entered as he stepped back and held the door open for her. She did not take the chair he motioned to, but stood just inside the door—which he closed—watch- ing him and wondering how any could For she felt that if she had not possessed knowledge of his real - character she would never have suspected him capable of doing the things he had done. He appeared to her, as he stood there smiling, an entirely different person than he had seemed last night in the cabin when talking with Naylor. There was a dignity in his manner which even his tousled ap- pearance did not affect: a judicial atmos- phere which transcended mere clothing sur- rounded him. As a matter of fact Edna had a convic- tion that the loose fitting house coat he wore could not have been mere becoming to him than the flowing robe of a Supreme Court justice. He was, she felt, one of attired than when arrayed in the habili- ments of fashion. He was so magnetic a personality that a quaver of apprehension swept over Edna as she watched him, a fear that he would win her admiration in spite of what she knew about him. “ Won’t you take a chair?” he asked. “No, thank you. My business won’t take long. I merely want to ask you to rescind your order appointing Brandt Adams guardian over Nellie Porter.” ‘So Adams had visited the Circle Dot? Why do you object to Adams as guardian for Nellie Porter?” : “In my opinion he is not qualified to act -ag guardian of a young girl.” _ “What makes you think so, Miss Pendle- ton?” 2 ‘He isn’t a gentleman,” answered Edna. “ Ah,” smiled the judge. The smile exasperated Edna. “He is a brute!” She declared. And then she related what had happened on the — - porch in the Circle Dot ranch house when 586 | ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Fagin and Adams had demanded the cus- tody of Nellie Porter. During the recital Travis Hciened ster Gueké intently watching her. At the end he smiled tolerantly. ~ ‘“ Adams and Fagin were acting with full authority, Miss Pendleton. It seems to me that you were the one at fault. Don’t you know that you were obstructing an officer of the court in the performance of his duty?” Edna momentarily lost her trek The thought that Travis could stand there and defend Adams and Fagin when she knew he was as guilty as they, and she not able to tell him so, enraged her. She felt she must let him know that she had a suspicion of the work the men were engaged in. She told Travis of the conversation she had overheard in Deming, hinging upon the question of a Two Diamond cow. Nevins, it had seemed to her, had suspected ‘Adams ‘and Fagin of doing something Hey: should not have done. Travis laughed easily, smoothly. “ Nevins didn’t make any specific charge, then?” he asked. those men who look better when carelessly 7 “No; but it was easy to understand that Nevins suspected them of stealing!” de- clared Edna. “And would you want me to condemn Adams because Nevins are him?” asked Travis. — “Ves!” she answered. Nevins is an honest man!” ‘A woman’s reason, Miss Pendleton. A woman’s judgment.” He stood, his arms folded over his chest, | looking at her. In his present attitude he lost his appearance of judicial dignity; he looked as he had looked last night when in the cabin talking with Naylor. There was a mocking glint in his eyes. She saw his lips curve into a faint, derisive smile. “Women are constitutionally and_noto- riously inaccurate in their judgment of men, Miss Pendleton,” he announced slowly. “ And T feel that you have based your judg- ment upon appearances.” He laughed as if deeply amused. “ Adams isn’t much to look at, for a fact,” he added, “ while Nevins is of a type- to influence women.’ 2 os Because Mr. Tt comicbooks.con