Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

GOOD LOOKING AND RICH, do nothing of the sort!” the girl announced, as the car started. ‘‘ Now come close to me and tell me everything you’ve been do- ing since you deserted me yesterday.” She directed upon him a devastating smile, of the sort for which any sane young man should have been willing to sell his im- mortal soul. It left John chilly as ever. He had no wish to ride the streets of Ebb- ridge with Althea Wicks this afternoon or any other time; Helen herself might well be somewhere about and, even were Helen safely at home, any number of people might see them and report to Mildred or to Aunt Faith. In spite of which he managed to talk satisfactorily enough for a while. They were heading out of town, it appeared, and no protest of his could stop them at Ebb- ridge Inn. He looked around—and exe- cuted a very violent start. There, slowing down her own little gray car as she approached from the opposite direction, staring at them with lips parted and face flushed was Mildred Ames! Yes, and she was hailing them, too, for John caught a faint: “Just coming down to meet you, Jack, and—” With a frosty little laugh, Miss Wicks stepped on her accelerator and the big red car shot ahead. “ That’s the first hint for the little hus- sy!” Althea commented. “Ves, but J—I think—” John stam- mered. “That you’d better go back and try to smooth it over, perhaps?” “Just that, because—”’ “Vouwre not going!” Althea laughed triumphantly, as they reached the forty- mile mark on the speedometer. ‘“ And [ wish you wouldn’t stare back like that, either.” “J wanted to see what she was doing?” ** Well?” Miss Wicks said, with abundant good cheer. ‘‘ What was she doing? She can’t catch us, if that’s what you’re afraid of. Nothing in town can catch me in this thing.” “I’m not afraid of her catching us,” Mr. Harley sighed, miserably. ‘‘ She—er—just turned off.” “pleasantly. ‘Miss Ames explained. 575 And she had turned off in the direction of Aunt Faith’s, too. Babbling infant that she was, ever ready to blurt out her trou- bles to the sympathetic ear, Mildred seemed on her way to Miss Harley’s—and there was no stopping her now. And there’d be just that many more lies to think up, when it came to the point of explaining to his aunt and to Mildred. “Now you won’t talk to me,” comment- ed Althea, slowing and looking up at him. “ Dearest, I didn’t mean to be horrible, butt you don’t love her and she can’t have you! Can she, dear?” ; “ She—no!”’ said Mr. Harley. The glowing eyes glowed more warmly. It was clear that Althea expected him to make love to her at about this point. John resumed his ordinary conversation quite hurriedly. The car whirred along. They were out of town, now, and bowling along dirt road, having taken the wide circle past the old mill. They’d come in again at the far side of Ebbridge, which really was not so bad, since it would put Mr. Harley into Wol- cott’s consoling presence a very little after six. Mr. Harley resigned himself to the ride, even slumping down in his seat—and almost at once Mr. Harley sat up again, for coming around a long curve Althea had put on her brakes suddenly. Althea, in- deed, stopped with a considerable jar. “Well, just what,” queried Althea, “ is the reason for that?” . : The victim of his own mendacity caught his breath. Not fifty feet ahead; turned squarely across the road and completely blocking any passage, stood Mildred’s gray car, with Mildred herself staring in this direction with perfect calm. “T say!” Miss Wicks called. don’t mind moving?” <I mind it very much!” replied the clear tone of Miss Ames. ‘I wish to speak to my fiancé, Mr. Harley!” “Well, you go to some lengths to make sure of it, [ must say,” Althea laughed un- “How in the world did you ever get up here in that time?” **T took a short cut and beat you to it!” “T wish to speak * Vou to Mr. Harley!” com ~ 7 . ne _ r ~ a a ~~ > ~ ———_ SO ee Oe Oe SS eee ee -