The Argosy, March 1907 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

~ LO right; anlike, she took it out on me. And then she marched out of the room with her head up, and the old man followed her, leaving Davis and myself alone there together. ‘That was when he said to me what I told you.” “Ah! That before he was through he’d make paupers out of both you and me, eh?” Old Sylvester’s voice was low and menacing, like that of an en- raged tiger. “Yes, and that it would do me no good to pay any attention to Phcebe Stonefield, as he intended to marry her himself.” The elder Burns surveyed his son across the table from under frowning brows. ‘Why wasn’t I told something of this before?’’ he demanded sharply. “ Didn’t you think it might possibly have some interest for me?” “Why, Mr. Stonefield said it wasn’t worth while to bother you with it. There was nothing in it but a lot of silly boasting.” “Stonefield is a _ fool,” succinctly. “Nine hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thousand he would have been but a chap like this Gardiner Davis is the exception, and he ought to have had sense enough to see it. Had I been told, I bet you I’d never have made such a mistake.” He relapsed into silence and sat a long time, his head sunk upon his chest, his knotted old fingers drumming thoughtfully upon the table-cloth. _ At last, George ventured to break in upon his meditations. Well,” he asked, a quiver of anxiety in his voice, “are you going to let him get the best of you, father?” The other raised his head, and smiled in a way that was not good to see. He suddenly fixed his eves upon his son, and leaning across the table, began to speak in a low but imperative tone. “My success in life, George,” he said, ““has been due to the fact that I never take chances and indulge in no half-way measures. As I understand this situation which threatens us, it rests solely upon the ability of Gardiner Davis to finish what he has started. No other engineer would consent to hazard his reputation on such a scheme eyen ‘THE ARGOSY. if he had _ Davis’s plans to work by, and my information is that Davis has not yet confided the details of his — project to any one. drift? ” He paused; but the pause was so full of sinister meaning that involuntarily Do you follow my the son dropped his eyes, while a cold shiver coursed down the length of his spine. ‘““I—I suppose I do,” he faltered. “You mean that he is to be abducted and held prisoner some way until the Spring Creek people have been forced to come to a sale?” The other answered with a contemptu- ous sneer. “ Didn’t I tell you that I indulge in no half-way measures?” he demanded. “Perhaps, though, I may make my meaning clearer by referring you to the - proverb about the kind of people that tell no tales.” There was a rapid interchange of glances between father and son. For a moment George had paled as the full significance of the old man’s purpose burst upon him; then, with a recollection of the bitter animosity he had always held toward Davis, his nerves steadied, and a malevolent gleam shot into his eye curiously like a reflec- tion of that in the glance so warily re- garding him. After all, these two were of the same blood. ‘““ How?’’s the son whispered, thrust- ing himself forward across the table. “Can it be managed without danger?”’ Sylvester permitted a brief smile of satisfaction to flicker across his face. He had not reckoned in vain upon the other’s assistance. ‘ Absolutely,” he answered. ‘‘ There will merely be a deplorable accident up in the Spring Creek country some day, and Gardiner Davis will be the victim.” “Ah!” George breathed a deep sigh of relief. . He had thought, from his father’s manner, that possibly he him- self might be asked to take an active hand in the enterprise. “And can you arrange for such an accident ?”’ he inquired. The other hitched his chair a foot or so nearer. “Listen,” he explained. ‘‘ There is a society up in the coal regions organ- ) Soe EOmMiIc 200K