The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

72 THE the corner of the room. There were no windows offering the man-outside a chance to shoot at him. Ben realized that she was trying to get him out of harm’s way. Wrath took possession of him. He re- sented being protected by a girl. He raged at the cowardly advantage taken by the one who had shot. He raced to the win- dow. ; “You damned coward!” he yelled into the night. “If you think I’m the kind of a sneak that takes advantage of a dark room, come and say it! If you dare!” Fan’s eyes grew dark; her breath caught in her throat. She put her hand up as if she fought for freedom to speak. “ That’s not the reason!” she cried out. He whirled to face her, his figure still outlined, an inviting target, against the brightly Jighted interior. ‘““No? You mean there isn’t some one out there who is afraid of—of— Then what’s he shooting for?” Ben said, his ex- citement calming. Fan did not answer. She endured his gaze a second; then her eyes left his and her proud little head bowed. “Oh! I see!” Ben exclaimed, watching her. ‘‘The reason’s tucked away in the front of your gown. He wants that paper; or he’s afraid Ill try to get it!” The red fanned into her face. her breathe hard. “Please, please come away from the window,” she begged. ‘T don’t dare. When a dastardly scoun- drel is outside; he’ll interpret my actions inside by his own code — unless he sees! What astounds me is that a girl like you can make a confederate of a barefaced crook who—”’ “TI don’t make a confederate of any one!” she cried, stamping her foot. “ I’m trying to keep you and others out of trou- ble.” ‘*'You’re defending that damned skunk!” The words ripped off his lips with the white-hot impact of wireless reports. His fingers ached to close on the throat of the man outside. It drove him almost beside himself to realize how the man had the whip-hand of him. He could regulate the steps that Moore might take toward Fan. He saw ARGOSY. és / gots me crazy to be sighted along a gun-barrel and not able—”’ ; “Then come away from the window!” “TJ will not!’ Ben shouted. She sank into a chair in her corner. She looked across at him with a curious expres- sion in her tired eyes. “‘ At least you’re not afraid!” Something seemed to pull Ben toward her. But he braced against it. The man outside was probably watching. | “No, I’m not afraid. But I’m mad as hell. You’ll have to forgive the language. You’re to blame for the occasion that in- spires it. You'll have to take the conse- quences.” Fan buried her face in her hands. paused for a scarcely perceptible instant. “To-morrow morning a new régime be- gins on this ranch. You'll make up your mind to be loyal to the man who owns it— and runs it!” “You mean Nun—’”’ quickly. ‘““T mean—me. Loyal enough to tell me who the crack shot out there is. Loyal enough to help me introduce modern meth- ods of preventing wild gun-play. This isn’t no-man’s land any longer. It’s got to go according to the dictates of law and order. And I’m the man that will start the go- ing.” She made no effort to stem his rushing she caught herself words. But they seemed to fill her with gloomy foreboding. She shook her head wearily. ‘Tf you—look here, Miss Fan, if you’ve been double-crossing your father, if you’re in love with some one he doesn’t approve of, Pl—” ‘“*'You’ll what?” she asked, raising her head to regard him curiously. ‘““T won’t tell him about this dirty work to-night.” ‘* The less said about it the better,” she surprised him by replying coolly. “IT can’t see it that way!” he instantly affirmed. ‘“ But if it will make things easier for you— Fan laughed, a hard little laugh that got on his nerves cruelly. ‘““Make things easier! know how to do that.” You wouldn’t comicbooks He- CO