Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

THE HOUSE in, both of you, in by the fire. You two have got to know each other.” ‘“‘ Harvey, I warn you,” Devree choked, fighting against Temple’s clutch. ‘ Don’t do it, Harvey. I—Ill say something— something we'll all be sorry for—”’ ‘“‘ Perhaps,”’ said La Salle smoothly, his voice mocking Devree’s tragic face, “ per- haps if you would send for Miss Thawn, I had better take her away and avoid all this argument—’”’ “No, sir. You can’t do that, Frank La Salle! Lord, man, here’s the first time you’ve been in my house since we took it, and you propose sneaking away like that. Come in here where we all can talk, you hear me? Why, Frank, good old Frank, don’t you know you’re welcome here!” Devree’s control was out of bounds. “You fool, you poor deluded fool!” he shouted. ‘“‘ Welcome? That man welcome here!” ‘“‘ Here, what’s this? Gordon!” | Tem- ple’s voice was a growl of astonishment, and menace. “ This is Frank La Salle, my friend, one of the finest pals a man ever had. Now just what the devil do you mean by this talk in my house? Out with it!” He twisted a firmer hold in Devree’s col- lar, and a look of surprise crossed his face. “*Man, you’re shaking all over—like the ague! Come, come, Gordon, tell me there’s some mistake here. What’s all this non- sense, anyhow?”’ La Salle, watching them both with a cold smile of lofty amusement, drove Devree to a frenzy of rage. “TH say it!” he shouted. “I will say it! I—TI told you, Harvey—I warned you. You wouldn’t listen. By God, I can’t stand it any longer. You’ve got to know the truth. That man your friend? La Salle! You poor, lovable innocent! Will you never see the lies you live among—lies, lies, lies! ‘1 tell you, your precious friend La Salle is a crook—a lying, scheming swindler who fattens off the suffering of the poor and ignorant—yes, and fattens on the misery of such a loyal friend as you. He spares no- body. He stands there now, mocking your helplessness with his damned smile, sneer- ing at you. He does that, La Salle, the man who tricked you—who sold you this home 139 A dilapi- OF FRAUD. you thmk so splendid—home? dated hovel in a swamp—”’ 66 Stop!” Jean Temple flashed across the room, vengeance incarnate. Her wide eyes blazed wrath as her hand flew to Devree’s lips, gagging him. Behind her came Diana, and halted, staring, held in the spell of the tragedy. ‘‘ Gordon,” Jean panted, desperate. ‘“ Tell him—tell him you were fooling him. Gor- don, tell him it’s all a joke—” ““T won't!” Devree pushed her aside. “Not even for you, Jean. I'll not do it! That crook sha’n’t stand there sneering at him—sneering at the decent man he duped and tricked and robbed, calling himself a friend—” _ “* Harvey, dear, dear Harvey, don’t listen to him,” Jean pleaded, clinging to her hus- band’s arm, trying vainly to shield him with her own embrace. ‘ Harvey, it’s all a joke —a miserable, ill-timed joke. I tell you, Gordon’s fooling—yes, he’s laughing now! It’s a joke; ask La Salle—” ““T will ask him,” said Temple, his voice stern. “ Gordon, be still. La Salle, you’ve heard. You heard what Devree says, that you tricked and robbed me, that my home is a hovel in a swamp—is that true?” La Salle had no answer. He was consid- ering the situation deliberately. In his hands now lay the balance of power, and he lingered, savoring the pleasure that knowledge gave him. Jean’s eyes were fixed on him. They besought him to lie with a humble eagerness that was pitiful. Devree gave him a bitter, scornful glance that dared him to speak the truth. Temple’s blind face bent toward him, stern as a judge. “Ts that true?” Temple repeated. Still La Salle dallied, smiling with triumph. “You have no answer, Frank,’’ Temple warned. “He doesn’t dare answer,’ snarled Devree. “Then I must believe Devree! Frank, Frank La Salle, are you going to let me believe that? We've been pals, Frank. In the name of our old friendship will you go on letting me believe that? You have taken my gratitude—” cComiclbooks.com