Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

306 Tredmill. Upon my word, he means well, as you admit; and it’s worrying Lucia dreadfully to know that if he loses his place you'll be largely responsible.” “Yes, yes.”? Eugene applied the brakes on his growing resentment, for it was with him a maxim that ill-humor is bad for busi- ness. ‘“ Well, well!” But though his man- ner grew docile, he had really hardened as the other softened. ‘‘ Am I to understand,” he asked dryly, “ that you. represent your sister in this curious interview? Has she sent me her orders that I am to embrace her preacher?”’ John turned from him without a word. He was too angry to treat himself to the luxury of self-expression. His visible emotion amused the merchant. “Do wait one moment,” Eugene called. “T can talk over the telephone without being overheard. I'll get your sister on the wire.”’ John waited with his back turned. He was deeply annoyed by the turn matters had taken, but could not bring himself to attempt further conciliation. 3 “Ts that you, Lucia? I have just had a remarkable conversation with your brother. Did you know he was coming to call on me at the store?” 3 ‘““ No,”’ came Lucia’s response, faint, agi- tated. “Well, it doesn’t matter. The point™is, he thinks the difference in our ages and tastes is so great that it would be a mistake for us to marry. I am wondering if you could possibly agree with him?”’ John wheeled about, throwing up a hand in protest. ‘‘ Wait, Eugene, let us talk this thing over fairly and soberly.” Paying no heed to the expostulation, Eugene pressed the receiver to his ear. John watched his face pass from a flaming- red to a milky pallor. Lucia answered: ‘‘ I perfectly agree with my brother. It was a mistake, Eugene; the only good thing about it is that we have found out in time. J am so sorry—” John could hear every word distinctly be- fore the receiver fell. Without glancing at John, who remained with hand uplifted as if deprived of the power of motion. Eugene restored the re- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ceiver to the fork and went to wait upon a customer, still pale, but otherwise his phleg- matic self, ee CHAPTER XVI. BURIED TREASURE. OHN, deeply agitated, went for a long J walk in the country hoping the situation would clear up for him with quiet medi- tation; but he could not compose his mind to quietness. On reaching the deserted cat- tle-shed, where he had changed clothes on first coming to Lagville—he had taken that direction unconsciously — confusion deep- ened while uneasiness over what ought to be done caused a violent throbbing of his head. Fate seemed to have led him back to the days of Blearstead and Bettie Hode as if to give warning that from. his past there was no escape. Other lonely roads led from the. river through dense woodlands and upspringing meadows, where the tender wheat showed its faithful pledge of living green, but they brought no counsel. It was almost dusk when he reached home. Lucia, who had been watching for him, was in the reception hall as he came through the door. ‘“Brother!”? She threw her arms about his neck and pressed her cheek against his coat-sleeve. He stood very still, not even stroking her hair. ‘ Brother!” Her voice quivered with emotion. ‘I am so glad, so glad, so glad!” He thought he knew what she meant, yet was afraid to ask. She gave him instant reassurance. “It was always a mistake. But I shouldn’t have known it until too late if you hadn’t come. John, I never loved him. I never, never loved him. I cannot imagine now how I ever could have imagined even for an hour that I did. The part of me that admired his success, his determination—the part of me that found him agreeable and pleasant to look at and comforting to have near seems to have been cut away. Isn’t it won- derful! As if V’d been through an opera- tion. And was healed. But if you hadn’t come, I’d still be in darkness.~ I’d have gone on in my darkness. We’d have mar- ried. Then when you came, as of course Gomichbooks (@) (EC)