The Argosy, March 1907 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

eee ag ee ee Oe ee ee ee a ee ao oe nae a le ~ S Ria sed ee MS a ee YL ee nee SS See ey oe gk aoe SG we =a er z ? - = < + 2 ores = Seat — =* *, Pa - 5g ~ i~ P = —* *, - Esso - 3 oe eee oe -, ats Me es aS aa i. he Os THE ARGOSY. 678 nerved by the evidence. should inform the authorities of their fears. But Henrietta decided it would be bet- ter to say nothing just yet. She had another plan. “He has an aunt and uncle living in Locustville, hasn’t he?” she asked. The housekeeper replied in the affirma- tive. “Well, I think we should get word to them first of all, and allow them to do what they think best in the matter. And as Locustville is only six miles from Travers, I shall go myself and tell them of our fears. I can drive over in less than an hour easily.” And so it was arranged. Henrietta dried her eyes and started her pony at a brisk trot. All the way, she sat as one in a trance, and several times narrowly averted acci- dents with passing vehicles. Their drivers looked at the fair occupant of the smart little trap and wondered at her-compressed lips and drawn features. She gave them no thought, however. Her mind was on a pair of broad shoul- ders disappearing around a corner in the electric light—a pair of shoulders she had probably seen for the last time. The last time! Tears came to her eyes anew, and she lashed the pony to a gallop. By the time it drew up in front of the house she knew to be occupied by Dunning’s aunt and uncle the animal was in a white lather, despite the nip- ping atmosphere. Throwing the reins around the whip-socket, Henrietta jumped from the vehicle and hurried up the long walk to the _ porch-steps. Mounting. these, she gave the bell a vicious pull. When, lo and behold! As though by magic, the door flew open and she found herself encircled by a pair of arms whose pressure seémed decidedly familiar. She disengaged herself and started back with a little cry. ‘ Dunning!” ‘ Henrietta!” “ You! ?? ‘Yes. I saw you coming up the walk. Did you come to forgive me?” ‘Forgive you? Never. I came to She asked what it was best to do—whether or not they - tell your relatives I thought you were dead.”’ . “ Dead! Well, after all, I suppose that would not have been far from the truth. All last night and this morning I have felt like something that had never existed.” “But about the tragedy——’” He hung his. head. “Yes, Henrietta, that was a tragic happening, wasn’t it? I confess I was a brute. I hope you have forgiven me. I feel now that I was all in the wrong in tearing up that picture as “ Picture!’ she exclaimed. talking about the picture.” “You are not? Then what are you talking about? ”’ ‘T’m talk Where is your aunt? ”’ “Gone visiting. Come in and_ sit down. You look tired out. I’m in charge—nobody at home but me—and Fanny.” “ Who’s Fanny?” sharply. “The setter pup. After I left you last night I decided Travers wasn’t large enough for both of us, so I came down ‘“T’m not *here.”’ “Yes, and a pretty scare you have given us by so doing. I want to use your telephone.” ‘“Haven’t any—here. The old folks never could see their usefulness.” “Then I must be going straight back. I have to get word to your housekeeper, or the poor woman will have a spasm.” ‘What about?” ‘ Why, about the affair last night “But I didn’t tell her we had had & split.” “Oh, you goose, I’m not speaking of our quarrel. I’m talking about a man who was run over by the street-cars and no trace of him but a few spatters of blood found afterward. Haven't you heard of it?” “ Nary a word.” ‘Well, you are mixed up.in it to a big extent, I can tell you. A_ black Fedora was found right near the spot where the accident happened, and—listen to this—it had your initials in it. Is there any wonder I have been worried? But of course it wasn’t yours.” ‘“ But it was. I remember now, after leaving you, I started for the railroad station, and hearing a train just pulling Eomichboo Hale)