Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

36 THE ARGOSY. ‘down that rug—that exposed something which has been my exclusive secret for fifteen years—and I thought would die when I died. If I were a more suspicious person—” “Oh! You would not dare—”’ ‘“‘T do dare,” he answered levelly, meet- ing her indignation eye to eye. “I do dare, but I believe, though I cannot tell you how or why I believe, you are per- fectly innocent in what you did. No, it was written so, agd so it must happen. I thought I had beaten that game. I thought I had made myself independent of circum- stance. By living alone I imagined I could remake my destiny as I pleased. Then you came—” ‘* And hope to go again, just as quickly. ” “Yes, and the mischief is done. Let two people meet, and there starts a chain ~ -of circumstances that can go on through generations and ages until the whole history of the world is made over—” ‘* And all this about a—a rug—” ‘“* About that door.”” Dean’s eyes flashed. “There’s no good ignoring that. The rug ‘is a blind, as you can easily see—” _ “Very well, rug or door, it’s all one to me. I have no interest in it. I can forget it—and I do forget it, now.” ' Dean shook his head slowly, and sighed, “You will have to know, now—”’ “T want to know nothing!” “ And I interid to tell you everything. Why? Because that’s the safer way. You say you'll forget. ing nonsense. Knowing half a secret, you'll spend your lifetime wondering at the an- swer—your lifetime. That’s human nature. No matter where you went or what else happened, there would be times when your mind would go back to a door, hidden in the wall of a cabin in the midst of nowhere, and your head would ache puzzling out its ‘meaning. Some day you would tell the story to another. That’s true, isn’t it?” Marta shook her head. Yet she knew it was true. “Your absurd mystery makes it true, then,” she argued defensively. Dean acknowledged that. no more govern the face I showed you when I came in, than you could the fate that Miss Kree; that’s talk« ‘killed him on the spot, And I could. made you tear down that blind. So there you are!” He rose, and tearing away the part of the rug that remained, pulled the hidden door wide. - ‘““ Come here, please,’’ he bade her. going to tell you the whole thing.” “T don’t want to know.” “You must know.” “ I’m “ Must!” She frowned back at him, ex- pressing a contemptuous surprise. “For my own safety,” he explained. “They say a secret ceases to exist when two people know it. It depends on the people, Miss Kree. When you understand this door, I think you'll be better able to banish it from memory. Come.” Marta hesitated. ‘ This is rather ridicu- lous—and quite unnecessary—” ““T can’t agree with that. I’ve told you why—” “ And look here, Mr. Dean, if you insist on this I want something plainiy under- stood between us first—’’ “© Well?” “1 have not tried to uncover your secret—”’ ““ Oh, of course!” “IT came here with no ulterior motive. I am no spy—”’ “I apologize for my suspicions. ]’m sure of that.” ‘And I make absolutely no promise be- forehand to keep any secrets. If you insist on telling me something, that is your affair. I shall be my own judge about silence.” She gave him the ultimatum with a serious, beautiful dignity that delighted Dean. “* That’s exactly why I want you to know it all,” he agreed. ‘‘ Let me be frank with you. - If a man, a stranger as you are, had stumbled onto this thing, I think I’d have Not out of malice, simply from necessity. I would not like to kill a man, but I’d have done it. If it had been another woman—I—well, I’m not sure what I could have done. I’m glad it wasn’t another woman. But you, I’m sure you'll do just as you say, judge the case on its merits, and stick to your decision. Would you mind handing me that lantern?” He lighted the lantern, and ushered Marta through the low door. The light COIN (-) Dooksnee