Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

CHANNING COMES THROUGH. She mounted the veranda without speak- ing to them and walked through the front door. Crossing the living room she paused in the doorway of the room in which they had placed Vallon and stood for a time looking at him. A light burned dimly on a small table and in its feeble beams she observed how ghast- ly gray Vallon’s face was. His eyes were closed; his hands, lying idly on the cover of the bed, were pitifully limp. A chill of sympathy for him ran over her; she clenched her teeth and her eyes filled. For she had liked Vallon; had almost loved him for his friendliness to Channing. She won- dered if she knew how Channing felt. Was there, after all, some justification for his savage impulse to avenge his friend? The men who had shot Vallon were very likely at this minute enjoying themselves. They were eating, sleeping, drinking, riding; taking an animal-like pleasure in all those things. They were care-free; could go and come according to any whim that moved them. But Vallon was doomed to lie there and suffer until death relieved him. A flash of rage shot through her, brought some color to her cheeks. “Channing,” said Vallon suddenly, com- placently. “Sure. He'll square things with you. If you knowed that you wouldn’t be standin’ around me so unconcerned— like you had plenty of time!” It was as if some one had thrust a lance through her, this evidence of Vallon’s con- fidence in Channing. There had been not the slightest hint of doubt in Vallon’s voice. The men who had shot him had had their day. They could stand near him, exulting over their deed. But let them beware of Channing! “T ain’t dead yet,” resumed Vallon. Watching him intently. Eve observed that his lips moved only a very little. But there was grim humor in his voice. “I reckon I’ll die, all right, before I can get to talk to Channing. But he'll sure know. There ain’t nobody else in this section that would shoot a man in the back an’ stand around gigglin’ at him.” Vallon laughed derisively and suddenly subsided. There was now a flush in his 269 cheeks, heightening his bronze color. Fever was gripping him. Eve was aware of Betty’s presence be- hind her. She had heard the rustle of the girl’s dress and she moved a little to one side to permit her to pass if she wanted to get into Vallon’s room. She did not look around, gave no sign that she knew Betty was near. ‘“‘T heard him talking,” Betty said. ‘Tl give him something right away for the fever.” There was awkward constraint in Bet- ty’s manner, a vague appeal. She flushed to her temples when Eve gazed straight at her and did not answer. She stiffened a little when Eve turned away, but before Eve could move through the doorway Betty called to her. ‘““ Eve!” she said; “I am very sorry!” Eve turned and faced her. Betty’s hands were clasped over her breast, the fingers were twining and untwining. There was supplication in the movement of her fingers. ‘“‘ Sorry for me?” said Eve. She laughed with quiet contempt. ‘I assure you that IT have no need for sympathy, Miss Blair. You are quite welcome to Mr. Warren; if that is what you mean.” ‘““T don’t, Eve!” protested Betty. Her voice quavered and her head drooped. “I am sorry for everything! I am sorry I came here. I have upset everything. I am re- sponsible for Vallon having been shot. Oh, Eve, won’t you forgive me?” Eve divined that the girl was in a frenzy of self-reproach. And somehow, she didn’t feel bitter toward her. For Betty had taken something from her that she now valued very little, if she had ever valued it at all. She owed Betty something for bringing on this crisis, for helping her to analyze her feelings toward Warren. If Betty had been the slightest bit vain or arrogant in her conquest of Warren, Eve could have steeled herself against her plead- ing. But there was no trace of vanity in the eyes of this contrite and repentant girl. Eve wavered, then held out her arms. Betty ran into them, sobbing. For a time they stood there, close to- gether. And then Betty whispered: ‘“T love you, Eve! I have loved you GOMIIGIOO S CO nn