All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

A THIEVES’ I felt like a brute—and then I want- ed to tell her not to bother about it— that it was all right—I’d look after her. But I could not fool myself that way. So I thought of the Harlem Loan Company again. “You are sure?’’ Margaret whis- pered at last, just as | was going to say that I’d get the things back for her. *“I—thought papa had everything—”’ “ Yes—I thought so, too, until some one unearthed fifty thousand shares from somewhere and sold them to vour father at two hundred and fifty. But I should have sold at two hundred. I was greedy and waited, thinking we were quite safe—and the bottom dropped out of things in five minutes. You mustn’t worry about it, though. I am sure I can get those things you sent me—”’ “You won't! give you—” “You mustn't say that. fault entirely. plunge and—” “ But you wouldn't have plunged if T hadn’t told you of Rand Island. And you've lost everything!” * Don't quarrel, children,” Alice in- terrupted smoothly, in a superior motherly tone, and laughed in a man- ner I thought rather heartless. ‘ You haven't time, and, besides, this is Cen- tral Park. J thought boys on roller- skates were not allowed in here.” A little chap, seated on his skates, whizzed past us down the quiet path. “You said that some one sold Uncle Theodore fifty thousand at two hun- dred and fifty? *’ Alice queried some- what absently. “Exactly,” I answered, trying to understand her attitude. “Um! That’s about five times what the stock is worth, isn’t it? I should imagine Uncle Theodore won't feel a bit happy about that. When he learns, as he is sure to do, that his daughter has lost every piece of jewelry she owned in a fiasco, he will be positively unfit to live with.” It is I who should It was my I was just aching to COMEDY. 779 Adie)? garet’s. “Well ’’—airily—* what's the use of smothering the truth? It is mighty and will insist upon prevailing, so you might as well turn your innocent little face toward it and see what it looks like.” I tried to smile and to say some- thing, but managed neither. Margaret seemed equally at a loss for a moment or two. Then she said very quietly: “Tm not afraid.” “That is foolish,’”’ I declared. have those things back to you—” “Who is going to lend you five to six thousand dollars without collat- eral, Mr. Mason?’ Alice broke in, most irritatingly calm. ‘ And even if you should find some one, don’t you think that that’s rather a cheap and easy Way out?” No mercy in that girl whatsoever. “ But—great Hea—guns! Miss Van Huysen, we can't—” “Cart your Hen it is. just as well you did not win. If you had you would both have made the mistake of your lives and been wretched forever The protest was Mar- Ll and ever. So let's say “Amen’ to that.” “We won't!” Margaret objected strenuously, and I felt as if I would like to applaud. ‘“ I wouldn't take the old things back if he brought them to me. I'll draw every penny I’ve got, and—and—” “ How much is that?’ Alice asked. “Almost nine hundred dollars. Papa doesn’t let me have more than a thousand at a time.”’ 5 “Nine hundred,” Alice repeated. “Would I be very rude if I inquired whether Mr. Mason could made it—a thousand ? ”’ “T think I could do that.” Alice smiled. “Well, you can't do anything to- day since the banks are closed. But lots of people have run away on much less than a thousand dollars. “T read of the case of a man who tried it with severity Hie ents., To- onniiclooolks.conn