The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

THE OTHER TRENT, “You don’t mean that you are through with him!” he cried. . “* Absolutely! He couldn’t keep up his masquerade of decency any longer. He had pretended to be kind and thoughtful, but the cloak fell off the beast at last.” . Jack got up, and his eyes glittered omi- nously. _ “Has he offended you? Did he do any- thing to—”’ “He had really no respect for me,” she said, and her sensitive chin and lips began to quiver. A dark flush spread over the young man’s face. He glanced vaguely at Trent, as though puzzled by Edith’s frankness in the presence of the visitor. Then he sat down again, unable to straighten out the tangle. “When did all this happen?” he de- manded, rather sternly. ‘‘ Where was I? why didn’t you tell me?” ‘“‘ It was several nights ago,” she said un- easily. ‘‘ You were at the armory and I went for a walk with Mr. Buckinham. I— oh! it was a horrible experience! ”’ “Why didn’t you tell me?” he repeated. “That was the time for me to know about it. Perhaps I can’t find him now!” She brushed some tears from her cheeks and smiled very slightly. “YT don’t think that he has recovered yet,”’ she said, with a shy glance at Trent. ‘“‘ Even if he was not punished enough, you would hardly wish to attack a man that had been beaten black and blue.” | “What — who did it?” cried Jack in amazement. “Mr. Trent.” Jack sprang up again and caught Trent in a bearlike embrace. “Thank God!” he exclaimed fervently. “Tf I can’t protect my own sister—if I’m such a fool that I can’t see when she’s in danger—then we’re lucky to have such a friend as Hal Trent!” Trent extricated himself. from the en- veloping arms and paced up and down the room to conceal his embarrassment. He begged them both to say no more about his part in the affair. ‘“‘T guess it is up to me to quit talking, and show some action,” Jack said, with bitter self-reproach. ‘“‘ Ill get out now and 113 hustle for a real job, without any million- aire to ‘help me get it and keep it. I guess this experience will teach me to think. There’s one more humiliation for me, too: I'll have to let my poor little sister support us both while I am looking fer work.” ‘We can starve together at least, Jackie,” Edith said huskily. ‘“ The poor little sister is out of a job, too. You were not the only one to be ‘ fired ’ to-day.” “More of the work of that green-and- yellow hound?” he cried. She nodded. He started to apostrophize the gods that were waiting to blast the soul of Bradley Buckingham, but stopped abruptly. “That ‘ll be about all from me,” he announced. ‘‘ Please don't think I’m so sore because you’ve lost your job. Fact is, I’m happy to hear of it. It’s about time you took a long rest, and if I can’t support you I'll die trying. I’m ready for any pun- ishment that’s coming to me. ‘It’s all up with me now about going to war with the regiment. They can call me a quitter if they feel like it, but I’m going to do my duty—and my duty is at home.” We'll talk it all over, Jackie, when we are more calm,” Edith suggested. “I didn’t raise my brother to be‘a soldier, but I wouldn’t have him be a quitter. I wasn’t born to be a lady of leisure, and I have to work to be happy. Presently I shall find another position, and then you needn’t wor- ry about me any more.” ‘‘Let’s forget all the trouble and have some dinner,’ Jack proposed. ‘‘ Here’s a hungry soldier, waiting to be fed.” ‘“‘T dropped in just for a call,” protested Trent. ‘I really must get back to the armory.” “Not until you’ve dined with your grate- ful friends!” Jack declared, and forced him back into his chair. ‘Dinner is almost ready,” Edith said cheerily. “I'll put it on the table and call you in just a moment.” Jack iooked at Trent long and earnestly when they were left alone. “Tl never forget it, old pal!” he said hoarsely. ‘Please do!” Trent urged him. “If you refer to the fight, why—the man is not oO Comicbooe S CO