Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

THE she stood, she would not approach the fire. “ Perhaps because he saw that. I. was” Her attitude said wordlessly that she was in the house of her enemies and would have none of their hospitality even to the degree of warmth. She wore her usual rough clothing with the addition of a heavy mackinaw coat buttened up to her chif, but the bovish defiance of her slim figure was belied bv her face, haggard and wan, with dark circles around her somber eyes and other lines sharp and bitter, robbing her mouth of its sweetness. As her eyes read Geraldine’s hidden distress she smiled faintly, a mere distortion of her mobile lips. There was a little contempt in the smile and a little pity, as though from some primitive wis- dom she measured the weakness of the other girl’s uncertainty. ‘What is to be done with me?” Geral- dine repeated faintly. ‘“‘ I—I-—am very stupid. I don’t understand.” Hoyt frowned. His choleric face tured a deeper purple. He was standing near the stove, and the heat seemed to strike in and smother +hhim. With an impatient movement he ripped open his heavy coat and slipped his big shoulders half out of it, The action revealed a certain awk- wardness, for it was accomplished with his left hand. The right one hung heavy and limp; it was swathed in bandages that showed white through his woollen glove. “You'll understand fast enough if you remember that people have the same rules of conduct the world over,” he answered. “Here you have been living, innocently or not, in a strange man’s house for weeks—-a rough, ignorant fellow who might have taken advantage of your posi- tion at any time. You say he lied to you, and no doubt he had his reasons if he did. You should have demanded that he find me under any circumstances, but from what I understand you tamely submit and ‘settle down to live here with these two old fools, weakly accepting some fantastic story about me without a murmur. Jf ‘this fellow’s motives were good, why ; Should he allow you to think me the owner [of the ranch—why should he wish to keep yyou here?” "-“T don’t know,’ p] said Geraldine wearily, KNIGHT OF LONELY LAND. : | ad iriendless and alone—and he was sorry for me.” oe Her manner infuriated him. “You are not alone ‘or friendless, and as vou are my niece, I refuse to allow you to remain under the roof of this gambler—- this renegade—-another hour. Get into your heavy clothes while I saddle a horse for you. These two old idiots may stay until 1 send for them, but you, Geraldine, must come with me.” The two old servants begun a protest, but they were silenced by Hoyt’s imperi- ous manner. Their lives had been spent in subjection to the family of which he was now the head, and they did not know how to rebel. But as Geraldine saw their dis- tress she wavered. ‘Let me think,” she said. “Of what?” he mocked her heavily. ‘Do you want to see him again, or con- tinue to live on this doubtful charity?” No, not that! Pride has proved a dis- torted mirror often enough in human lives. Geraldine saw herself in a humiliating light. as the recipient of benefits to which she had no right. With rising shame she remembered how she had taken possession of the house, ruthlessly ordering changes and threatening Norman Hoyt’s displeas- ure. ‘She could imagine him laughing at her in his queer Billie Stranger fashion. She had been a burden to him, she had even jorced him to buy jJuxuries, barely acknowledging the trouble he took to please her. sudden anger shook her like a reed in wind; this was fed by the sight of Little Britches standing by with her inscrutable smile. “Very well, J wil) go with you, if you wil] leave the price of the horse I ride,” she said, and tumed away to her own room. When she reappeared Jarrow and Mrs, Moffatt were alone: the two servants hovered about, begging her to remain at Jeast until Billie returned, but their fear ci Hoyt was too great to bring a stronger protest. ‘The Hoyts were always hasty tem- pered,’ Mrs. Moffatt eyaverzd), Sa0caao inn