Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

FIXED BY GEORGE. seemed to be upon Geraldine Dare. Much as if tons of ice-water had been poured over her, Geraldine had returned to her sane senses. A stifled gasp, and she had backed away in George’s direction, blinked at him and recoiled—and then-had ceased recoiling and stared scared bewilderment. ‘““What’s the matter with her, George?” she gasped. “Just what Poole said would be, I guess!”’ George chattered. ‘‘ He must know more about medicine than I thought.” ‘‘ She hasn’t—gone mad?” ‘Well, if she’s doing all that for fun she must have a queer idea a a joke!” George murmured. “And I started it!” “You were warned.” _ “JT know, but. who could—who could have thought? “Nobody, Gerry!” groaned George. ‘The fists beat on and on. There seemed to be no end to their beating or to the strength of the arms behind them. George turned away. He could not watch it—not with the knowledge that, but for himself, the unfortunate young woman would be home and in bed at this moment. He turned cold from head to foot. He stole a glance at Dr. Poole. Rather wild-eyed himself, the physician was going rapidly through his pockets, evi- dently in search of stray sedatives. They were not lurking in his coat—they were not in his vest—again, they were not in his trousers pockets; and at each failure Dr. Poole’s cheeks whitened another shade. He caught George’s eye, and flamed suddenly —and George looked away hurriedly and took to watching Miss Woodbury. Her hands were wringing now. She was walking back and forth, back and forth, up at the end of the room—and now she threw out the hands and now she took to wring- ing them again. That wonderful assur- ancé which had been so much a part of. her a little earlier was all gone now; even the Miss Woodbury who had tried to pull the arms out of Aunt Amanda’s best mahog- any chair had been a placid person in com- parison. Paint and all, one could not but feel sorry for the woman, who was having a struggle all her own. 9 ArGosy 609 Then, so far as decision was possible to ohe so distraught, she seemed to reach it! She sped to Dr. Poole and touched his arm. ‘* Her—father!’’ she began. ‘* What?” gasped the doctor. ‘IT mean to say, her father—” “Stop that babbling!” snapped Dr. Poole. ‘‘ You’re making her worse, if that is possible.” He turned his back. Miss Woodbury drew breath and looked about dazedly; and with a queer, stumbling rush she was upon Margery! “ This—girl’s father—” she began. ‘Don’t speak to me!” said Margery. “TI know, but her—” “IT told you not to speak to me!”’ Whereupon, Mrs. Poole turned and moved away, and Miss Woodbury, casting about again, gulped audibly and came to Geraldine’s side. ‘“T want to tell you—” ‘“T don’t wish to hear it!”’ * But I must tell you that her fath—” There was the doorway of the living- room, just to the right. Geraldine, gather- ing her narrow skirts about her, stepped through it and stood in thé foyer! Miss Woodbury for a moment choked with dread ful, hysterical Jaughter. ‘““You—you, George!” This girl’s fathet-— ‘Don’t tell me about her father!”’ George snapped. “I'll be well enough acquainted with him before this thing’s all settled.” “J don’t mean that. Her father—” It was altogether too much, this thing of being pawed over and mouthed at by one who never should have rented Aunt Aman- da’s home in the first place. George shook she_ contrived. off the detaming hand and stalked after Miss Woodbury smoothed her — Geraldine. brow with one limp hand., ‘‘ T’U—tell the girl herself!” she stated, and hurried to the couch, ‘ Miss Starr! Your father is—” “Oh! Oh! Dr. Poole took the lady’s arm quite roughly. “Go over there and sit down! D’ye hear? Over there and keep your infernal mouth shut!” He whirled her away from him, so that Oh!” screamed Miss Starr,. JOO (C(O) S (C(O)