Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

32 was more of pity than of passion in his affection for her. Time and again he had been on the verge of marrying her and taking her out of it all, but his distrust was more of himself than of her. When Derrick Tavenor ap- peared he was human enough to be resent- ful, but only for a moment, and he did not crudge Letty what he assumed to be her happiness. Indeed, he felt that it was his special mission to guard it. Letty knew that to-morrow, by hook or by crook, she must devise some means to go to London—and alone. It seemed altogether frivolous to say that she had some shoppingvto do. There were quite good shops in Beltingham, and neither Julia nor Maud ever fared further afield for their needs. If she mentioned her father at all it might excite suspicion when the affair came out in the papers. Yet she felt that he was the only rational excuse she could sive for going off when everything was so topsyturvy at Tavenor Court. Perhaps Derrick would have his dinner at the works, as he so often did. It would be easier to make up a little story of ‘her father’s illness—not a dangerous illness— when they were alone together. By now she had forgotten all about their quarrel of last night. There had been so much to put it out of her mind. Charles, she was sure, was not likely to make mention of her having received a visi- tor that afternoon. He was a stolidly hon- est young man, and not given to harboring suspicions of anybody. So far she was in merciful ignorance of the fact that Julia had followed hard upon Roger’s heels and asked questions about who had come in the station cab. — It was customary for Sir William to be settled early for the night and for the nurse to join those of the family who might be dining at home. Often both Julia and Der- rick were absent. Letty was in her bedroom changing for dinner when the housemaid came in and said that nurse wished to speak to her. She told her to let nurse come in, and turned from the mirror in the act of doing up her hair, wondering and apprehensive. Indeed, every nerve was on edge. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY But this apparently was not a calamity. The nurse said merely that Sir William wanted her to run up to him for a moment before dinner: at once, if she could. ' The woman’s eyes shifted ever so slightly. She did not find it necessary to add that her patient had likewise directed her to see that Miss Julia did not interfere with his in- terview with Mrs. Tavenor. Letty made short work of her toilette, and hurried up to the big bedroom, where’ she had been admitted bat seldom during Uncle Bill’s illness. She’wondered if he thought she had kept away because she didn’t care to come. A night light ‘illumined the room faintly, and the old. man looked gaunt and grotesque as he hoisted himself up with an expectant air as she entered. . | “Ts that Letty?” he asked sharply. ‘“Oh, yes, Uncle Bill—I came just as quick as J could. I was changing my dress.” ‘It’s you, Letty—-all right. door. Lock it.” As she turned to obey ‘he pulled some- thing out from under his pillow—it was a thick wad of bank-notes. ‘Letty, take this—there’s a hundred pounds or so. I don’t quite know. I want you to do something for me, and you’re not even to tell Rickey; I’m so helpless, you see. Will you promise?” She caught the glitter of his eyes even in the dimness, and the curious feeling gripped her that even Uncle Bill might have his secrets. What could it mean? she dropped onto her knees by the bed, and whispered to him encouragingly as she took the wad of notes and gripped the hand that tendered them. ‘““T'll do anything you want me to, Uncle Bill. Tell me what it is.” “You felt sorry for that Howland girl, didn’t you, Qetty?” he whispered back. ‘“T’m sure you did.” | “Oh, yes, I did,” she agreed, tears rush- ing to her eyes as the scene came back to her j in memory. ‘“ Well, so do J,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze. ‘‘] wish I hadn’ t done it, Letty. T can’t tel] you all the reasons now, but Shut the some of these days you may have.to know, ...