Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

100 Both of those statements were quite true. “You needn’t think I’m going to give you any money,” he said roughly, “ be- cause you might take it into your head to bolt. But you ean come out with me and have some food, and we'll talk things over.” ‘‘Y’m ashamed—in these clothes,” Lor- aine objected. ‘‘ London’s so fine. I feel horribly shabby.” Tremlett drew in a long breath. So it was poverty which had beaten her down. Perhaps her running away had taught her a lesson. “Tl buy you anything you want, but do you know what shops to go to?” Loraine laughed, and failed to notice that he gave her a sharp look because the sound of that laughter was so unlike Amy’s. “Do I know the shops!’ she repeated excitedly. “ Well, I ought to. I’ve tramped about enough, looking for work.” ‘“‘ Amy, something’s come over you. You —you’re different,” he said in a puzzled tone. ‘I don’t know what it is—”’ ‘“‘T’d have to be different if I consented to marry you,” she retorted quickly. ‘ Do you think I’ve forgotten what you did to me? You'll have a job making me forget, Peter Tremlett. No, I’m not the same girl I was. I admit that. For one thing, I’ve learned to smoke.” Peter was shocked, but also a little fright- ened. If he had already driven her to such lengths she might have gone to worse. Per- haps in consenting to marry him she had realized that it was a choice between that and the fate of so many pretty girls who have neither the strength nor the wit to make their own way in the world. Lucky he had found her in time. When Loraine retired to the small back bedroom at Mrs. Kidder’s that night it was nearly twelve o’clock. It had been a most successful day from her point of view, ard she had led Peter Tremlett a merciless dance. It was also a day which had con- tained one moment of real fright. He had kept her with him almost every moment. First they had driven in a cab to the London branch of his bank, and he had drawn out a great deal of money. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Then they bought the special marriage li- cense, by which time the luncheon hour had arrived. Loraine said she had heard that the Savoy was an interesting place to have lunch, ‘but she disliked going there looking so shabby. Tremlett, however, insisted. He was in a festive mood, and somehow or other champagne was suggested. He was not accustomed to anything so stimulating in the middle of the ‘day, and after that he was as wax in the girl’s hands. She made the most of her opportunity, and dragged him about from shop to shop. The fright came when, driving through Leicester Square about four o’clock on their way to have tea somewhere, they passed the Augustin Theater, from which the long rehearsal had just been released. Among the throng of girls streaming down the narrow court at the side Loraine’s quick eyes picked out a familiar red hat. The taxi was held up for a moment, and the girl wearing the red hat crossed the street di- rectly in front of them. It was Amy Mar- shall. Had Tremlett seen her? Loraine could scarcely trust herself to speak, but when she found courage—after a breathless interval—to turn to him, she saw that his head was sunken on his breast and his eyelids closed. Thanks to fatigue and the day’s dissipations, he was half asleep. It had been a near shave, and Loraine nearly collapsed after it. He took her back to Mrs. Kidder’s and waited in the little parlor while she went up-stairs to put on some of the new finery, and then they went out again, to dinner and a theater. Apparently the girl was tireless, but when he left her finally Peter Tremlett was on the verge of complete ex- haustion. He told himself that it had been the hap- piest day of his life, and that he was the happiest man in the world, for to-morrow was his wedding day. When Amy was his wife he could begin to mold her a little more to his wishes. For one thing, the extravagant pace he himself had set could not go on. Already his real nature was stealthily prompting him to turn aside from all this wasteful expenditure, but for the comiclboooks C©