Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

<a t es onde the eis of the rest. ae The earl eS = no better than she should be. -_ “TZocked up again in my stateroom.” “Heavens, you haven’t been speaking to any more prudes.” __ * Werse. I was suspected of stealing Mrs. Potter-Dunlap’s hardware.” “Why, how ridiculous!” = ot nice of you to say that,” he re- ‘Of course, you couldn’t do such a thing. Who was silly enough to think so?” - “Tt was a joint charge. Howard and _ myself were both suspected.” “Even more preposterous. Why, he could buy and sell Mrs. Potter-Dunlap from what I hear.” Not exactly that, but we convinced ae the captain that we were not guilty, even - theugh a piece of the stolen jewelry was = found hidden in our reom.” ____“ And have they found the thief?” Then how did you get leose?” = aS “We got references from a bank in Kan- ere sas City which guaranteed the total value of _ eat Sow wonderful to be rich,” said Ger- ____ trude with a sigh. Her own poverty was beginning to be brought home to her. “If = = it hadn’t been for Mr. Campbell you would = __ be in terrible trouble, wouldn’t you?” = Rod could not inform her of the true situ- — ection. “This is in strict confidence, you know. No one knows we were under suspicion, and _ we've been in trouble enough without that.” __ “ All my, fault,” she said contritely, “Pm sort of glad of it now.” a Se «“ Why 2? . . “ Because it has permitted me te become = = acquainted with you; to know the sort of | girl you really are. I didn’t know there cS were girls like you.” ae S=2 Se ~ “How absurd! There are lots of girls a ‘ike me.” Efe <3 cence naeline So. — I never ~-ARGOSY-ALLSTORY. WEEKLY. eS ‘ What cael of girls have you met?” “T come from a little town in Oklahoma sy called Otamie. I worked hard all my life on a farm except for four years I put ia at college in Kansas City. The girls I knew were small town girls, not pretty particu- larly and not interesting to me. Some of them were well educated, but they seemed sort of narrow.” “J should think you would call me nar- row, after our first meeting.” “T’ve forgotten that. I’m only thinking how nice you are now.” The conversation was becoming interest- ing, but it was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Thomas. From the doorway she espied the pair and she determined that the party would be broken up immediately. So she sailed down upon Gertrude, pointed- ly ignering her companion. ‘‘ Gertrude, please come with me at once, I wish to dress for dinner and, as I have no maid with me, I would like you to hook my gown.” “Yes, mother,” she assented, darting a look of understanding at her parent. “TI wish to present you to Mr. McGarry.” “How do you do, Mrs. Thomas,” said - Rod, extending a large and calloused palm. Mrs. Thomas looked him over from head to foot with an appraising stare which em- barrassed and confused him. She ignored his hand, inclined her head very slightly, murmured ‘“‘ How do you do,” and turned her back on him. Gertrude threw him a compensating smile. Then they went away. Somehow Rod was not downcast, despite the freezing manner of Mrs. Thomas. Ger- trude had been delightful. He had been — afraid that her kindness at their first inter-— view might have been caused by a desire to make up to him for the inconvenience and pain she had caused him. But this after- noon she had welcomed his coming, chat- ted in a most charming and amicable fash- ion and seemed inclined to regard him as =e @ man she did not mind knowing well. ae He walked on air for a while and then entered the smokeroom, where he found Howard in a bridge game in which Hig- ginson was a participant. It happened to be his turn to act as dummy, so he left ae his Seat and Jemed Roe 4 hn i i, =n)