Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

it came out one afternoon, very eh rate “ Nancy, the reason I - never talk about—what we used to talk about is because I’m cured—absolutely ~ cured.” - “Yes, dear,” she said, lowering her head _ to hide the springing tears. It was so ob- _ my hands are tied!” vious that he was not cured. She could not forbear one question: “‘Is it because you found you were mistaken in her, Ran?” “No! No!” he said violently. “ But Though he had given up all hope he brooded on Diantha constantly. Such un- - selfish brooding gives one in time a cer- tain clairvoyance in respect to the object. Randal guessed that it was Sutliffe who had set Myra upon Diantha. In pursuit of this idea he looked up some mutual acquaint- ances and made cautious inquiries. George _ Bricklym told him of the party at Myra’s. ’ suspicions. He smelled a conspiracy. The fact of the party confirmed Randal’s It maddened him, he felt so powerless to act. One day he was on his way to Oddie’s rooms when he met Sutliffe coming out of the house. The two young men passed without any sign of recognition. Getting out of the elevator Randal yielded to an ' impulse. Instead of going to Oddie’s door sight of Randal. ~ come in?” he rang Sutliffe’s bell across the landing. Kittson opened the door. The waxen, impassive face broke up in pleasure at the “Mr. Randal! You! This is a surprise. But you don’t look real well, sir. Will you Randal shook his head. “I want to talk to you, Kittson. But not here. Will you - come across to Mr. Oddie’s flat for a min- “ Yes, sir; certainly, sir.” “ Where’s Sutliffe?” “Gone for the afternoon, sir.” Kittson followed Randal across the land- onal Randal had a key to Oddie’s apart- ee A. Randal led the eee ed den, where a Face to face with Kittson re Tees ARGOSY-ALLSTORY. danies: | sharply. open so intimate a matter to a ser Kitson, seeing his distress, h helped 1 out. nae “ Mr. Oddie is a reader, I on” he re- marked, glancing around at the books, _ Randal was grateful for the respite “Yes. How are hydrostatics getting along, Kittson?”’ “Slowly, sir. It’s an abstruse she. Excellent training for the mind.” “‘ What are you going to do with it?” “TI scarcely know, sir. The great thing is the mental training. You didn’t read that book I gave you, sir.” “No,” said Randal contritely. “ Could not put my mind to it. In the excitement I left it behind.” “You would find it an excellent sedative, sir.” “* Just what I need, eh?” “ Will you try it again if I send it to you, sir?” “Yes, and thank you, Kittson.” Once Randal’s mind was taken off the subject which oppressed it, the words began to come of their own accord. “ Kittson, I havent forgotten what you and I said to each other the night I left.” “Thank you, sir, there isn’t a day but what I have thought of it, too, and wished there was something I could do to help you.” “What made you think I needed help?” the queasy Randal demanded. “T could see something was troubling you, sir.” ‘‘ Well—I’ve come to you for help now, Kittson.” Kittson’s old face worked with emotiog, and pleasure. “ Oh, . Mr. thing!” ; é Randal blurted out: “ The real cause of the quarrel between Sutliffe and me 1 as a young lady.” e “ How did you know that?” cele “ Did you overt But it. Randal! a lA Wats " ’ ¥ ce Y Se - “No, sir. — oes ay tee _is qu ~*<"comicbooks.com