The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

PETROLEUM PRINCE. “It’s too late now,” he answered laconic- ally, to all their arguments. ‘Sure it is,” replied Prince as though the remark had been addressed to him, and turning to Welling, he said: “Come, young fellow, are you going to call a taxi.” He moved magnificently toward the door, but kept an eye on Fane, ag he drawled: ‘““T guess I turned the trick that time all right. They won’t put me on any inside page to-morrow,” “‘ Father! Father!” cried Fane, frantic- ally. ‘‘ Don’t you see what he is going to do?” Indeed Mr. Harlingood had heard and he rose to his feet, choleric. “He’s going to the penitentiary, that’s what he’s going to do,” he exclaimed, shak- ing a palsied fist at the despoiler of his home who had double discounted the work! of any common thief. ‘“ But this creature wants the publicity,” said Fane. ‘And it would ruin_us,” added her mother. “ T'll see that it’s kept out of the papers,” responded Mr. Harlingood, who unaccount- ably, at least in his own mind, had revived his ancient importance, as he recalled that his father had known Charles A. Dana and that he once met the editor of the Sun. “ Welling,” he said to Jack. “ You ‘will assist me?” ‘T’ll do all in my power, sir,” obliged the young man. This nettled the captive. ‘You haven’t got power enough to keep me from telling the judge about it,” he in- terposed, ‘‘ nor to keep me from dropping a little note to the newspaper boys, providing they’re not on hand. IT’ll have my day in court, you bet.” Arthur had come up in time to hear this and thought it was his turn to take a hand in the outré proceedings. ‘What do you mean by all this, Mr.—” he demanded, hesitating to use the nom de criminalis. | “Tf you want something, son,” laughed his .quondam barber-shop pick-up, ‘ you might as well be polite and call me Prince.” “Well, Mr. Prince, what do you mean 135 by all this?) Aren’t you about satisfied? Haven’t you gone far enough?” Prince was chuckling to himself, very much at his ease. * Not by a jugful. You’ve had your turn so far; now it’s my turn. Of course I’m not saying I ain’t enjoyed the whole show—” Mrs. Harlingood was aghast. ‘“ Enjoyed it!” she exclaimed. . “Yes,” said Prince, “seeing you hop around like the help so as to fool an old oil-driller. Of course you didn’t know I was a crook, did she, Miss Devon?” and to Una’s horror he included her in a friendly smile. For the moment Una suffered more poignantly than ever. So that was to be her reward? The man whom she had stood ready to befriend meant to betray her. Evi- dently there was no honor in thieves even if among them. Yet, he may have meant well; she would still hold open the benefit of the doubt, though it was a bit hard right now, for Mrs. Harlingood descended upon her in a storm of righteous indignation, saying sharply: ““T feel somehow that you ale at the bot- tom of this. How dare you stay one mo- ment longer in my house?” Under that hawklike glance and those gimlet eyes Una rose unsteadily, but the next words from Prince diverted attention again from her. “Hush, Riggs,” he said in his best man- ner. “ As long ag Hoffman House Charlie is with you don’t spill any family secrets. Remember, everything you say may be used against you.” The father shrieked to Welling: * ‘Take the impertinent wretch away!” Fane rushed again between Jack and his prisoner, - “Don’t you dare take him to jail, Jack. I won’t have it!” and she faced Prince with fire in her eye. ‘Yes, he will,” responded that worthy. “Till not lose my chance to get into the Four Hundred.” Fane was breathing defiance at the ma- rauder, but this made her vaguely appre- hensive. ‘What do you mean?” she asked. The banality of the phrase ‘“‘ four hundred ” al- oO Comicbooe S CO