Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

368 plans relative to his future, but she shook her head. ‘““Pa never tells me anything. But, sure enough, I’ve got to go.” He only sighed. “Say, John, I know something about you that you don’t know. Ma told me only the other day. It’s awful interesting ,and strange.” “ Let’s have it, Bettie.” ‘“No—lI won’t tell you, since you ask that way,’ she pouted while opening the door. He roused himself. ‘‘ Then I ask you this way!’ he exclaimed with an uncertain laugh, holding her close. She remained very still. She whispered: ‘“ Want me to stay a little longer with you, John?” “Of course I do; only you mustn’t get into trouble with your father.” “The trouble would pass away,” she murmured, “‘and I’d have you to think about. And I’m used to trouble: But, anyway ”—she slowly drew away—“ it was awful interesting what ma told me. How you’d open your eyes if I told!” He made a gesture as if to grab her again, but she slipped into the hall, She said: ‘But you don’t really want me to stay. It’s just to learn the secret.” “Bettie! You sha’n’t say that.” “No, I won’t say it; not again. Honest- ly, John, if I thought it would make you happier, I’d tell. But ma says it wouldn’t. She said not to let you know, ever or ever. Your mother told her years ago. But if the day ever comes when I think it right for you to know, I’m going to tell, anyhow; yes, Iam.” She said wistfully: ‘“‘ Are you ever coming back here—I mean, to live?” “But, Bettie, what could it have been? 1 must know, really.” He started after her, but she passed light- ly to the head of the stairs. ‘* Maybe I’ll tell you—oh, certain sure I’ll do whatever you want me to do, John—when you come back—to stay.” Suddenly she raised a warning arm. He understood the signal. The police were at the foot of the stairs. On tiptoe he gained his room, locked the door, and braced him- self against it. “Hello, Bettie!” called a policeman, f ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. whose voice John recognized. ‘‘ Where’s our friend, John Walters?”’ ‘““T guess he’s wherever he went,” Bettie replied, showing her teeth in an easy smile. It was difficult to ruffle her hard-tested exterior. “Oh, I guess not. He was right here. You must have put him in your pocket. Come, come, Bettie, play square. What have you done with him? Tell us where he is.” Bettie answered: “I can tell you what he says about it.” She drew from her bosom the letter John had written her on the eve of his escape from Old Smiley’s cellar. John could dis- tinctly hear one of the men reading it aloud to his companions, and as the old phrases came to him, he had the uncanny feeling of listening to the utterance of a dead self. “ DEAR BETTIE! It’s like going fishing without bait to leave town without telling you good-by. In the East I hope to lose myself, big as I am, for I care not for fame. Listen to my advice, my dear: keep out of the newspapers, for there’s nothing to it. If I succeed in hiding behind the trees of Manhattan—that’s geogra- phy for New York City—I’m going to build a little cabin down on Wall Street where the wolves can’t get over into the yard. And later you'll come to me, won’t you, Bettie, and be my little wife. When it’s muddy, we'll clean our shoes on the skyscrapers and when times are dull we'll get on an Elevated and if the cops come nosing around in their police-boats we'll sink ourselves in a subway and pull under our periscopes. ‘The world is fuller of girls than of boys, but there’s only one I ever kissed when we said good-by, and I’ve set her a chair at the head of my table marked ‘Bettie.’ If any other lady tries to get into it, she’ll get such a hard seat on the floor that she'll See you in the air looking like a big star. This isn’t plain talk, but when you’re in love, you wear frilled shirts: Life will be all joy-rides, bright lights and confetti When I am plain John Walters and have my little Bettie.” ‘“'That’s a love-letter,” said one of the men. = Bettie answered pertly: ‘‘1 took it for such.” “Tt’s said another. aA a plain offer,’ 0)(0\(0) a © =) a <S (€)