Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

ild exchange whispers without be- Ilan spoke first. * To find you, of course. I was worried to death, Rodney.” _ * You're not safe in a town like this.” _ “Ym all right. It’s you that are not safe. Did the sheriff notice you?” . “Who’s he? I don’t know him. I’ve never been here before. Went to the job through another town.” “Big man. He wouldn’t know you, though. I looked over his notices of men wanted and you weren’t among them. But you've got to be careful.” TT will.” ‘“‘ Are you all right, Rodney? You don’t look well.” “T’m fine. And you?” * Good enough. I7ll never be really well till you’ve cleared yourself.” “Tl do that.” “ You'd better go now. We can’t keep this up. Some one may learn that I know you. That ‘ll never do. The sheriff sus- pects I’m looking for a wanted man, I think. If he learns that I know you, he may arrest you on suspicion.” “ All right. See you again. es Good-by.” Her flying fingers stopped, the noise of her machine ceased, she whirled what looked like his letter out of the roller and handed it to him. “ Sign on the bottom,” she stated aloud. “You may leave your letter here if you wish and I’ll mail it. One dollar, please.” He paid it. ‘“‘ Thanks, and come again.” “T will,” said Allan. He went out, and Alice continued her Her eyes were bright now, her bear- ing buoyant, her smile joyous. For the = <t time since coming to Geyser, she looked . She was blissfully ignorant of what pening outside. ‘had not proceeded more than ds from her office before Harper nly out of a patch of dark- for?” the prisoner “Why did you come Good-by.” Allan swore. “Who gave me away? an?” he demanded. Harper winced as he had when Allan tried to embrace the dance-hall girl. This was the man that Alice loved—one who Suspected immediately that she might have betrayed him. | “No!” he said. Without further words, Harper took him to the jail and locked him up. That part of his job was easy enough. Now came the hard part—the task of tell- ing Alice. He went to her office. At the mere sight of him the happiness drained away from her face. The thought that his appearance af fected her like that was like an arrow in his heart. “I’m sorry, Miss Juno,” he said, “ but I’m afraid I’ve got bad news for you.” What?” she cried, and leaped up from her desk. “TI have arrested Rodney Allan.” She stared at him, hortor-stricken. “What for?” “ For embezzlement committed in Wil- lowfield, Ohio. Why? What is he to you?” “ He is my husband!’’ Alice exclaimed, and after giving this reply she burst into harsh laughter. Did any wom- ¥I. Not a muscle of Sheriff Jim Harper's face moved as he heard this unwelcome an- nouncement. He was on duty now. Per- sonal feelings were submerged. “T see,” he said. ‘“ Would you like to visit Mr. Allan in his cell?’ “Yes” said Alice, and in silence they proceeded to the jail building. Harper let her in and she remained with the prisoner for nearly an hour. A hard. vengeful expression disfigured her fine fea- tures when she came out. ‘J want to know a few things,”’ she said. “How did you know that Mr. Allan iS wanted for embezlement in Willowfield?” “J received a circular stating that he is.” “ When?” ‘A few days ago.” ~ comicbooks.com