Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

“THE PERFECT SCHEME, Thus it may be seen that these arrange- ments had nothing to do with the increasing tenderness Clare felt for Merle or with her singing happily as she waited for him to ap- pear. The bell rang and with more of a heart- flutter than she would have owned, Clare hastened to the door. To her utter surprise she found not Merle, but Harvey Sykes! “ Good gracious!” she exclaimed. “ How you startled me!” She was trying to conceal the cisappoint- ment that seized her for the instant. Harvey grinned, offered his hand. “Handed you a surprise, didn’t I?” he laughed. “‘ Aren’t you glad to see me?” Clare was normal again by this time. “Of course I am,” she said. “‘ Come on in. Where on earth have you been? My, but you’re looking well, Harvey.” There was truth in her statement. Har- vey did look well. At least, his color was high and his clothes were new and fitted perfectly. There was, too, an assurance about his manner which had escaped Clare before. She sat down and motioned him to a chair. “Tell me,” she said, “‘ did you Jand that Philadelphia job? And is it all you hoped it would be?” “No,” he said. ‘I’ve been visiting some friends in Chicago and playing the stock market a little. I was lucky, too. Made quite a lot of money in Paxton Copper.” He mentioned a stock which had risen spec- tacularly. “Oh, how nice! You'll be a bloated mil- lionaire next we know.” They talked generalities. He inquired about Merle and was told that the latter had obtained a place with the L. M. & O. Railroad, that he liked it. But nothing they said registered with Harvey. He fidgeted, seemed absent- minded almost. All he could do was look at Clare. She was more lovely, more desirable than ever, Harvey thought. Her charms and his ability to win them were vastly aug- mented by the narcotics he had absorbed. Life was a wonderful, pleasant experience. Harvey suddenly said: “Oh, bother all 853 this, Clare. We’re going to get married!” He rose and moved toward her and she stood up quickly. “ What on earth are you—” she began, but he cut her short. “Just stating facts,’ he said, and laughed. “ Why, I’m just mad about you, Clare. You know I am, I always have been. So—we’re going to get married.” *“‘ Harvey, you’re crazy! You—you’re joking.” “ Joking!” he exclaimed, a bit thickly. “Not for a minute. Why, I—oh, come here, Clare. You do love me a little, don’t you?” He held out his arms and she drew ack. Something in the way he looked at her frightened the girl. “Be sensible, Harvey,” she said, trying to be matter-of-fact. By way of answer, he took her hand, quickly, before she could escape and the touch of it caused him to lose his head en- tirely. Clare tried to withdraw her fingers, but Harvey tightened his grip and with a lightning maneuver, drew her to him. His arms went about her shoulders and he tried to bring her lips to his! Thoroughly alarmed, Clare ducked un- der his hands and backed away. Where- upon, Harvey flushed with anger and promptly pursued her. He paid no heed to her, ‘‘ Please, Harvey, sit down! Please!” He would have seized her again, but she evaded him by clever footwork and suc- ceeded in reaching the door. Infiamed with the drug, he followed her into the hall just in time to see her\run squarely into Merle Wentworth, who that moment came in from the street! “Oh, oh, Merle!” Clare’s voice was high-pitched and frightened. Merle exclaimed: “ What’s the matter?” then recognized Harvey and that something was wrong at the same instant. ‘* He—he—has been—” Clare seemed on the verge of tears. ‘Merle thrust her gently to one side and strode to where Harvey stood. ““Vou’d better get out, Harvey, 4 he an- nounced. “The hell you say,” riseiels the other. “Who’s going to put me out?” : Eomichboo S (E(0)