Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

PRIDE OF TYSON. “‘T have his street address,” he said, and he scribbled the house number on a oes and shoved it across the desk. He saw her hesitate an instant, and then she rose and took the card. Sweat poured out under the arm-pits of Garth. He should have carried the card to her. “Thank you,” she was saying, as she glanced at the card. “T’ll keep you no longer from your work.” She was going toward the door. For a frantic instant there welled in Garth a terror that he might find nothing in his empty brain—nothing to speak to her, and detain her. She was passing between his very fingers like the water of a mirage. ““ Wait!” he cried, a little hoarsely, rising. She turned to him, her eyebrows politely raised. “Ves?” = _ Why the devil was she so poised? Why did her color come and go for no reason? Why were her eyes so mistily bright? ‘“‘'You’re staying at my mother’s house while you’re in La Blanca, of course, Miss Tyson?” ‘““ That’s very kind of you. But I sup- pose I’ll be with’ Hal, you know.” 7 ‘You couldn’t possibly,” he went on, breathing more easily now. ‘“‘ Tyson lives in a little boarding-house. He wants to. He’s leading the hard life, you know.” Garth laughed uncertainly, but the girl nodded. “TI know about that. there, I can, as well.” “You really mustn’t. Ill be hurt if you don’t come to us. So will my mother. She knows of the pleasant time I spent with you in ee! York. Besides, we have loads of room.’ He was so insistently earnest that the girl looked at him: with a rather sharp touch of curiosity. ‘“‘ But it would upset Mrs. Garth to have me come at such an hour. To-morrow, if I may—” He brushed away her objections wih a wave of his big arm. He had come quite close to her now, a towering figure, forgetful of his disarray, and to the girl he seemed a figure strong enough to take the burden of Atlas. But if he can stay 245 “You'll upset nothing. There are half a’ dozen rooms that can be put at your disposal in five minutes. You’ll come? Of course you will. I'll take you down right now.” | He began to roll down his sleeves. ‘You mustn’t do that.”’ And she raised a hand to stop him. He may have amused her a little, but he also pleased her. He could see it in her eyes; feel the new cor- diality in her voice. ‘I want te see Hal by myself the first time—look in and surs prise him.” ‘* All right. Halloo, McIntesh!” The secretary appeared at the doer. ‘Mac, will you take Miss Tyson in the ‘machine wherever she wants to go? She And bring her. has the address with her. atound to my house when she’s ready. Miss Tyson, may I present Mr. McIntosh?” While McIntosh was bowing. Garth suddenly wanted to wring the fellow’s neck. He was not in the least embarrassed by the girl’s beauty. He seemed te take her as a matter of course. Garth would have given nameless things for that same _ cock- sureness. “Tl see you later, then?” he went on to Margaret. ‘Indeed, yes. turb your mother if I come in a little late? I may be quite a while with Hal.” : “Take your time. Take your time. Nothing will disturb mother. She used to run—” he was about to say “ boarding- house ” when he checked himself. ‘“ She'll take care of you. You'll find your brother thin. Been working too hard, and I’m afraid he shows it.” ‘Good night, then. And thank you so much.” : A little rising inflection in the middle of - the speech that sent a thrill through Garth. He could only nod in silence, and then they were gone. He watched them covertly through the partly opened door. McIntosh was already chatting comfortably with her. Confound the fellow! He would bear watching. Never could tell about these smooth Sehh Satisfied ones. The rattle of the automobile starting; then the engine fell into a smooth humming, COmiclboo ae sure I won’t dis- S C@