The Argosy, March 1907 — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

A case of mysterious disappearance that found its solution far otherwise’ than in the trite one of the earth opening to swallow the victim. - a LL Cranville was aware of the bit- ter rivalry between Tom Fuller and Francis Manning, and consequently all Cranville had its opinion when Tom Fuller disappeared mysteriously on the night of July 15. For the size of Cranville is just such as to make it easy and agreeable for every resident to know every other resi- dent’s business. Tom Fuller worked for wages in the - shoe-factory. He was a skilful work- man, and a good enough fellow in his way—quite good enough to be the hero of a conventional love-romance if that ~ were to be the end and aim of this nar- ration; but as it has another purpose, there is no need. to expatiate on his character. or arouse sympathy because his rival, Francis Manning, happened to. be the son of a rich man who lived in Cranville only in the summer. For Frank Manning was an equally good fellow in fis way, which is not necessarily bad when you have plenty of money, a fine home, education, and a cheerful disposition. But it might go without saying, that Fuller felt that circumstances were much ‘against him when he discovered that the handsome young summér resident was interested in pretty Isabel Fielding, and that Isabel’s head was apparently turned by the wealthy suitor’s attentions. It was only natural that Fuller should feel bitter toward Manning, and if he be- haved a bit foolishly he should be par- doned on account of his limited knowl- edge of the world and the fact that the rather heartless remarks of his com- panions were exceedingly hard to_ bear with good grace. People are not so outspoken in the cities as they are in the country. Your city friends do not grin when they meet you with your sweetheart on your arm, nor, on the other hand, do they ask of- BY FREDERICK R. BURTON. fensively if you’ve “ got the mitten,” or if the other fellow has “ cut you out.” Fuller had to endure this latter sort - < t-> Re a - ~ ~ 5° > > nn a oe, ae > : eur qin df ote ae: 1 t ae Raf qj , ale i. aT Al _¥ iin hs e> AY]: Wee} Me of thing at the factory, in the village “grocery store of an evening, and even z after church service on Sunday. It is oe small wonder, therefore, that he vented Sg his jealous rage one noon when he met = Manning coming from the post-office. te In the words of the bystanders, he re “sassed Manning good,” and the high- — bred city man, surprised and haughty, ag turned his back, and would have gone ae on but that Fuller snarled something SS that would have made a cooler fellow et hot with anger. Manning wheeled = about in a hurry, and there was an ex- “Ee change of fisticuffs, to the delight of the Ae younger fry, until, the dishonors about — even, the postmaster and the store- pe keeper butted in and separated the two. S5a Manning hurried shamefacedly to his es elegant home by the seashore, and Ful- BES ler snorted his way to the modest board- ing-house where he lived at four-fifty Eis a week. Boe It was foolish, deplorably foolish, and while Fuller was clearly the immediate- 3 aggressor, local opinion was strongly in: e his sympathy; and when you come to ss think of it, many a more famous battle — has been fought for a precisely similar == cause, even mighty wars, just becaage += Saas aw ee Ee never fiaack 3 = 3) The important fact is that word of the = affair .sped before nightfall to Isabel ae Fielding’s home, away out in the farm “aS district, and the story lost nothing of aa circumstantial detail in transit. Re Now, that was the meeting night of <5 the Torrent Hose Company, and Fuller, * its president, had to be present. Mle = — heard next day that Manning had spent Skee the evening with Isabel. a That was not a pleasant thing to os think about, but it in nowise affected = ~ Fuller’s actions, for he was going to © *—