Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREATEST been through! We mustn’t let Rickey know this. It would kill him,” Maud cried. Julia stared at her aghast. “You can’t mean—you aren’t actually suggesting that Rickey is to be kept in ig- norance—”’ ‘“'Y-yes, I am,” sobbed Maud. “You, of all persons! When you and Gerald were to have been married—” “T c-can’t help that. I’m thinking of Rickey. Yes, and Letty, too. I won’t be- lieve she’s bad—”’ “Any more than you believed Grace Howland was bad.” ‘‘T still think you went the wrong way about Grace, but that’s nothing to do with this. How do you know that Letty delib- erately did that to Gerald? If I can forgive her, I don’t see what it’s got to do with you. You never liked him very much, any- way. When you weren’t jealous of his being fond of me, you were jealous of his friend- ship for Rickey. “Tt was half your doings that he ever started on that trip. You wanted to get him away, just as you’ve been determined lately to get Rickey away. You're jealous of Letty, and everybody knows it—including Letty. Now I see why you've decided he isn’t to go after all. You’ve found a better way to separate them. Oh, Julia, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!”’ Julia was not ashamed, but she was cer- tainly very angry. That Maud should dare to say such things to her and, above all else, to take Letty’s part! For the mo- ment she was speechless with anger. “You'll break Rickey’s heart, and kill father,” Maud said as a parting shot. She got up and stumbled out of the room, sobbing noisily. Julia thought how ugly and clumsy she was, and what a weak-minded fool. CHAPTER XXIII. AN INCUBUS PASSES. AFTER all, Letty did not find it at all ; A difficult to get permission for her trip . to London. When she said she wished pto'go up to see her father, Derrick readily fegreed. In his own mind he thought it was GAMBLE. 335 better for her to do that than run the risk of the “ old bounder’s ” suddenly deciding to pay a visit at Tavenor Court. Derrick himself had a full day ahead of him in consequence of his altered plans. He breakfasted very early, and Letty was with him. Neither Julia nor Maud had appeared when they left, and Letty. gave Charles a message for them. She expected to be back by the late afternoon train. Derrick apologized for not coming to the station with her. He had an appointment which prevented it, and that was rather lucky, for otherwise—had he seen her off—- she would have been hard put to execute Uncle Bill’s secret commission. The car dropped her at the station, and from there she took a cab to the Keys, where it was easy enough to find Mrs. How- Jand’s little shop. Uncle Bill had said that Gracie’s mother would give her the address in London where the girl was staying. When the shop-bell rang Mrs. Howland clattered in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron and staring in open: eyed amazement at the soft, golden-haired loveliness of Letty in brown furs and vel- vet. Almost without telling, she realized that this must be the young lady whom Grace had likened to Mary Pickford. “Tam Mrs. Derrick Tavenor,” Letty said shyly. ‘ Are you Mrs. Howland?” The pinched-looking woman nodded. ‘I met your daughter once,”’ Letty went on, thinking how she was to keep Uncle Bill’s name out of ‘this. ‘“‘ I—TI liked her very much. I mean—well, I’m going up to London to-day, and it occurred to me I might look her up and bring you back news of her. I believe you told Miss Tavenor she is staying with an aunt. Could you give me her address, Mrs. Howland?”’ The widow shook her head slowly. ‘TI told her to go there—but she ain’t with Aunt Minnie. She never went near the place. Leastwise I wrote after waiting until I fair thought I’d go off me ’ead—and the letter come back. Still, I can give you the address. Oh, miss—madam—if you only knew ’ow worried Iam! Some days I think I'll just put on me bonnet and shawl and go straight up to London and find ’er, the poor pretty! And thea Tisns/teayeeelfes