Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

Lord M: Bunch: Lord M: Bunch: Lord M: Bunch: Lord M: A CROWN means by which such stories have circulated. In Lady Cleveland’s position they cannot be allowed. You will please take steps to stop all such gossip immediately.”’ (indignantly “ You do me a great injustice. No one thinks more of Lady Cleveland thanI do. I may say that I’ve even done something rather silly because she asked me to. She could tell you herself—” You are referring to the fact that you discovered by accident that she has adopted a certain disguise, Lord Maurice—” (petrified) ““ What! You know!” (very businesslike) “ Of course, I know. Things that a gentleman finds out by accident, Lord Maurice, he immediately forgets.” ‘““ Well, look here, Miss Turke, you seem to forget that I have to think of King Peter, too. With my sister’s position In Florania it would look very queer if this masquerade came out, and it was known that I knew about it.” (sarcastically) “i am sure the king’s interests are very safe in your hands.” (Becoming wily) ““ Now, why shouldn’t the matter be arranged, Lord Maurice?”’ (eagerly) “I am only too willing to arrange it, Miss Turke. I sup- pose it does seem a bit low down, but I am absolutely on my uppers. Haven’t got a red cent in the world and my diggings are snowed up with bills—”’ 908 “So it is what I thought—com- mon blackmail, Lord Maurice!” I can just see the way she looked at him, with her eyebrows a little raised and her nose wrinkled, as if he were some weird insect she had never seen before. From that moment, she told me, he showed up just as badly as a man could. She absolutely refused to pay him for hold- ing his tongue. She commanded him to stop the gossip about me immediately. She FOR SALE, Bunch: said he quite lost control of himself, threat- ened to expose me if he were not adequately paid, asked for five thousand pounds and then came down to five hundred. Such an exhibition of mixed fluster and groveling she had never witnessed. It had made her sick. Finally, he had gone, muttering dark threats. But she was certain he hadn’t the strength of character to carry them out. “Qh, Bunch,” I said, wildly apprehen- sive, ‘“wouldn’t it be better to give him money? What does it matter?” ‘‘ Impossible, Liz,”’ she answered. ‘‘ You’d have to goron giving him money. And if you gave him a million, if you gave him all you have, he’d still know, he’d still have you in his power. You can’t deal with biackmailers. If I’d had a detective listen- ing to that conversation, Maurice Angell would have spent the next few years in jail. Don’t worry, child. Ive got his measure. He hasn’t even got the courage of his evil intentions.” All the same I lived in a fever of fear, as the days slipped by in endless appoint- ments and engagements and the wedding day drew near. TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK U U U LOVE, THE LOCKSMITH | PRAY you, Locksmith, make me A key to Sylvia’s heart. Nay, go to Love for that, lad, In such I have no part. For he’s the master locksmith, Has keys and more to spare— But ‘ware, lest when ’tis opened, You find another there! Harry Kemp. COMIC oOo! S CO nn