The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

PETROLEUM PRINCE. Mr. Harlingood hung back, declaring he did not feel well, but to this the martinet would not listen. “ ‘No, Henry,” she declared, ‘“ there are few enough of us against such an attack as this, such an outrage. It is your place as the head of the family to share the danger. Come!” And off she marched, followed by her cohorts. On the middle of the stairs the old gen- tleman asked, in a weak voice; if his spouse still intended for them to masquerade as their own servants, and she snapped back: ‘“ Yes, of course. It won’t do to let such a creature out in the world with such knowledge against us. He must never know who we are, only what we have pretended to be.” Mr. Harlingood accepted this with a groan and Arthur with a sigh. Fane did not care, for she felt that. it all meant the rapid consummation of her union with Jack. At the very moment when the four came to their decision, or, rather, to Mrs. Har- lingood’s decision, in the room above, and just as Jack left the telephone-booth in the St. Opposite, having received assurances that the police wagon would leave immedi- ately for the Harlingood mansion, he who had first appeared as Petroleum Prince was shaking his manacled fists at the library door. “Call them in. shouted to Una. Visibly frightened, she still protested. “Do as I say! Call them in. I'll show them and I’ll show you!” “ But theyll put you in prison for a long, long term.” He lowered his hands and he turned on her in a different manner. “No,” he said quietly, as though his storm was over, ‘‘ they will release me.” ‘Ob, they are cruel,” she admonished desperately, ‘“‘ especially Mrs. Harlingood.”’ ‘““'They’ll beg me to go.” He stood as firm as granite, facing the door, as if taunting his enemies to enter. “You dan’t know them. You don’t know them,” Una begged. “ Please go. It js not too late.” Call them all in,” he . bird. Don’t do it. Girls like you know nothing at all' about 129 His anger, if indeed anger it was, was now dissipated. He was able to compre- hend that she was much wrought up, and he seemed at last to realize that this nervous condition was occasioned by con- cern for him. His manner changed: He approached her, ““ Look here,” said he tenderly, “if I get you right, Miss Devon, you’re feeling sorry right now for a crook.” The “words stung her, and he spoke almost as if he were accusing her. “I'd like to see you get away,” she answered lamely. “Don’t worry about me,” he replied, with a rough directness that startled her. ‘T’ll show these birds a clean pair of heels, and in my own way, not yours; but before I do I want to give you a piece of advice. ‘You're wasting your time pitying a jail- They’re not worth it. the tough side of crooks: You see ’em when they’re down and out, at the seedy end, and it looks hard on ’em. And you ‘cry and carry on and think they’re getting the worst of it. ‘Youre wrong. They only get what’s coming to them. And you’d agree with me if you ever saw a crook at his business. That’s where they get you; you see ’em off duty, and they’re sad and touching. Now you ought to see them when they’re on duty. You’d change your ideas about ’em. ‘Believe me, I’m giving you the straight talk for your own benefit, for I like you; you ought to know that.” Una was blanched white. ‘‘ Now you’ve proposed, girlie, haven’t you, to let a crook go free of the law?” She tried to answer but could find no words. ‘““ And you’re pretty sure I’m that crook, aren’t you?” he insisted. ‘* Aren’t you?” she gasped. ‘“ Oh, tell me. I'll believe anything you say.” He relaxed, seeing her fright. ‘““ You’re too scared to see anything just now,:’ he continued more gently, “but I want you to sit over there,” and he led her to a chair in an obscure corner, where she sat obediently. comicbool< CO