The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

PETROLEUM PRINCE. him with serious attention, had not ridi- culed his assertion and had promised curtly to send the wagon with an officer immedi- ately. To be sure, he had forgotten the number of the Harlingood house, but he had described its location exactly, he thought. Yes, Fane’s mother must have rated him highly if she could have heard him giving his first important communica- tion to the guardians of the city. Therefore, he was ill-prepared to meet the glowering looks with which she greeted him on his buoyant entrance. He glanced eagerly to Fane, only to find her abashed and sullen. Arthur and his father wore hang-dog expressions, while a glance at Una told him that she had failed miserably in whatever mission she had assumed. In- deed, it was a pretty kettle of fish. He was soon enlightened as to the mean- ing of his somber greeting. Mrs. Harlin- good, having resolved that it was no time to stand on ceremony, and shrewdly calcy- lating that her words would have extra weight with Welling in view of his inten- tions regarding Fane, advanced toward him and asked: ‘Will it be necessary for the police to come into the house?”’ “No, I could meet them outside, I sup- pose,” said Jack puzzled. “Then do so, by all means,” urged Mrs. Harlingood, “‘ and take this—this man with ou.” She dared not look at Prince, and only vaguely inclined her head in his direction. “If you wish it,” Jack agreed lightly and nodded his lead to Prince. ‘‘ Come along, ou.” 4 Before Prince or Welling could move, Mrs. Harlingood, greatly encouraged, stepped very close to Jack and, placing her hand on his arm in a semi-affectionate manner, added, coaxingly: “Arrange this matter so it will not be known in which house you made the arrest, won’t you, please?” He paused. “Tm afraid, Mrs. —”’ Fane was close at his other side, and before he could utter the name had wh:s- pered to him, sotto voce, “ Mrs. Riggs, Jack.” 131 ” He reassured his inamorata with a nod and continued, as if nothing had happened: “I’m afraid, Mrs. Riggs, that may be difficult, though I will see what I can do.” Again he moved to the door, opened it and stood aside, motioning to Prince to precede him out. However, Prince did not stir. He was standing in the center of the room, his arms in front of him as if he intended to hold them only in that way, and his coat cuffs dropped down to conceal the irons. He was smiling most good-naturedly, and beaming from one to the other, not eaves- dropping, but watching all that occurred. ‘“‘Isn’t it about time to drop that, Mrs. Harlingood?” he observed with good hu- mor, but without looking at any one especially. “T am Mrs, mother. Prince laughed. ‘‘ Then why did you answer to the name of Harlingood?” he asked blandly. The mother trembled, but managed to reply firmly: ‘“‘T thought you were looking at me.” ‘“‘ No, I wasn’t looking at you, but I was speaking to you, Mrs. Harlingood,” insisted the atrocious person. Fane, vigilant and with her wits now quite alert again, saw that her mother was in a bad way and rushed to her defense, but still with the pretense that they were entertaining a millionaire tenant, for she was not sure just how she ought to behave toward a breaker of the laws. “Her name is Riggs, indeed it is,” she asserted in an explanatory tone. “And a right handy little title, too,” added Prince pleasantly. Mrs. Harlingood stepped primly aside. “Don’t talk with him, Fane. Let Mr. Welling take him away. I am glad to see the last of him.” ‘“What’s that?” called Prince, ‘“‘Fane?’” He addressed the youthful “ housekeeper.” “ Thougat you were Mrs. Mapes?” “ 'Thet’s my first name, sir—Fane,”’ she answered anid iooked imploringly to Jack, who now stepped to the center of the room lo remnove his prisoner by force if he were not willing to go. Riggs,” exclaimed the comicbool< CO