Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

A NEW GIRL IN TOWN. Od “Nice story for the newspapers if we were all found here together,” he muttered. “You must go right back. Wait in the taxi fer me.” “ Will you bring him?” | “Not on your life! Ill drag him up the hill and Jeave him on a bench.” “You're inhuman!” “Go quickly! The fog is lifting. In a minute we’ll be revealed to the whole lake.” “You must stay with him till he comes to his senses. Promise me that or I won't stir!” “T promise.” She fled up the slope, but not before Guyon had seen her. He closed his eyes again. The whole situation was instantly clear to him. Somehow Sutliffe had con- trived to get her there, to witness his hu- miliation. It added the last drop to his cup of bitterness. He doggedly drained it. Sutliffe put his hands under Guyon’s arms, and sought roughly to drag him to a sitting posture. But Guyon twisted clear of him. “Let me alone,” he muttered. take care of myself.” Sutliffe laughed. thought as much.” Guyon managed to scramble to his knees, then to his feet, where he stood swaying, supporting himself with his arm around a young tree. “Well, I hope you’ve learned your les- son,” sneered Sutliffe. “Get away from me,” said Guyon thickly. Sutliffe laughed and went up the slope. Guyon was still groggy. In stooping to pick up his coat he fell again. He was finally obliged to drag himself up the hill on all fours. At the top he fell into a bench beside the footpath in order to re- cover his strength, and think for himself. “TI can ‘“Sojering, eh? I When the colonel came home to his break- fast a pale but resolute Diantha told him af everything that had happened during the preceding strenuous twelve hours. This time she spared herself no detail. The story had not progressed far before the colonel became greatly agitated. It was one thing 241 to plan a liberal education for the girl who had wound herself around his heart; it was anether thing te hear of its actual working out. ‘““He kissed you!” he exclaimed furi- ously. “ That swine!” “Only on my neck,” said Diantha coolly. . “ The first-one took me by surprise. I shall be on my guard another time.” Pretty soon the colonel had further cause to become agitated. “Took you upstairs to the Casino! Encouraged yxu to gam- ble!” Diantha faltered. ‘There I confess I made a fool of my- self,” she murmured. “ It went to my head. I forgot everything; our work; Sutliffe; everything. I only had a madness to gam- ble. I didn’t know I had such horrible possibilities!” The colonel was staring at her speechless, all his rosy color turned ashy, a little net- work of dark veins standing out on his cheeks, Diantha raised her head. ‘‘ But, anyhow, I’ve learned my lesson,” she said firmly. ‘“ At least, I know my own weakness now. Wild horses wouldn’t drag me back to that place again. I'll never touch another card, nor a chip, nor dice while I live!” ; A breath of relief escaped the colonel. ‘‘ Well, then, there’s something to be said for my system, after all,” he said in a very low tone. “T must owe Sutliffe hundreds of dol- lars,” Diantha murmured in the deepest dis- tress, ““'That’s nothing,” he said. pay him back.” When Diantha came to the place where Guyon intervened, the colonel jumped up, and smote his palm with his fist. ‘ That young fellow again! Good God! How un- lucky! He'll ruin everything!” Diantha, unaware of any reason for so great an agitation, looked at him in surprise. ‘‘ Oh, I suppose he meant well, he meant welll”? muttered the colonel, striding up and down. “ But—oh, confound him, any- way!” Diantha had not forgiven herself for the previous night, but she was not disposed to “You can comicboooks C©