Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

492 This minute had been anticipated by both of them; for many months, when they had stood close together, they had felt the imminence of surrender to the longing that dwelt in both of them. But the girl resisted, as she had resisted many times. Her breath came rapidly, and the captive hand trembled as she tried to withdraw it. “No; not now, Kane!” she protested; “not now—please! ” Lawler laughed lowly, and held the hand for an instant longer, while he compelled the girl’s eyes to meet his. “ All right,” he said; ‘‘ not now. But the time will come. you, Ruth. But you don’t trust me enough to tell me what it is. Some day—when you discover that nothing but your love means anything to me; when you realize that I love you esough to take you in spite of the thing that worries you—you'll tell me. And then we’ll forget it.” — He steppéd back, releasing ise hand, for he had heard a commotion eartsicle— Jimmy’s voice, high-pitched, carrying a note of savage triumph; and the voices of the other scholars in a shrill murmur, coming Ruth started, clenched her hands, backed to the desk, where she stood, her eyes wide, her breath coming fast, a picture of apprehension and dismay. Her big eyes went to Lawler, who grinned faintly at him. “TI reckon Jimmy’s coming with ee ‘ paw,’ he said. A big man, tall, massive, muscular, with heavy shoulders that seemed to droop = the weight of his great, long arms, stepped into the room through the door that _—e had gone out. Jp He man’s head was hig, like the rest si : him, and covered with shaggy, tawny hair which seemed to bristle with truculence. His chin was huge, square, and sagging a little, his lips were in a hideous pout; and his eyes, small, black, with heavy brows that made them seem deep-set, were ate ing with passion. He paused just inside the door, seem- ingly to accustom his eyes to the subdued light of the room. His long arms were Something is worrying | hanging at his sides, the fingers clenching he wore—one at each hip. As he steod there, blinking his eyes at Ruth and Law- ler, Lawler spoke. “ Come in, Singleton,” he said. Ruth was still standing at the desk. Her arms were now outstretched along it, her sound of Lawler’s voice, amazed at the change that had core in it—wondering how—when it had been so gentle a few min- utes before—it now have in it a quality that made her shudder. = - She saw the big man’s eyes widen, noted that his shoulders sagged a little when he heard Lawler’s voice; observed that there seemed to come an appreciable lessening of the tension of his taut muscles. She marveled that the sound of one man’s voice could have so calming an effect upon an- other—that it could, at a stroke; seemingly, cool the white-hot out that had seized the Man. But there was no doubt that a change had come over the big man. His shoulders sagged further. A suggestion of a mirth- less smile began to tug at the corners of his mouth; he wnclenched the fingers of his hands. _ “It’s you, eh?” he said, gruffly. “My kid was sayin’ some one in the schoolhouse had walloped him, an’ I was aimin’ to find’ out who it was. I reckon he’s gone.”’ ‘““T * walloped ’ him, Singleton.” - Lawler’s voice was gentle. In it was still a trace of that quality that Ruth had sensed, softened now slightly by the knowl- edge that Singleton’s rage had soaatd cooled. _““ There isn’t a heap to be said, I reckon,” Lawler resumed, as Singleton stood rigid again. ‘ Your boy was trying to wallep his teacher. I happened to look in, and I had to take a hand in it, just to keep things even. He had it coming to him, Singleton.” Lawler’s manner was conciliatory, even mildly placative. “‘ I figured on saving you a job, Singleton.” Singleton’s face reddened. ‘“ Lawler, I figger to lick my own kid.” ‘‘ Singleton, I reckon it can’t be undone, and you'll have to make the.best of it. JOO (C(O) S (C(C)