The All-Story, March 1914 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

Miss MOORE. ' And then Miss Grayson was stand- ing over her like a threat, and too near tobe comfortable. But Peggy did not move. She was afraid to, though she could not have told why. Everybody knew that, though Miss Grayson was queer, she was harmless. ; “You are sure of this happiness of yours?” : Pegey looked up sharply. then even more quickly down again. and backed away a step. . “What right—I mean, why do vou ask that?” “Because I want you to be sure— very sure. And you have no one to guide you. You are alone, young and impressionable, and the man has money ar he could not take you to the places he does. It is very easy to be mistaken and to slip. Some of us stop in time or are lucky in the choice we make. The others—well—I was one of them. T know.” - Peggy studied Miss Grayson in an amazement that was mingled with fear. “You— Oh, I’m sorry.” ’ Her voice had a little break in it. She was so happy that svmpathy was easy. Miss Grayson’s haunting snule be- came more distinct, and her hand ‘going out, she drew Peggy gently to- ‘ward her. / “You think he is wonderful. don’t you? I can see it in your eves. and. ‘three years ago I looked just as you -do now when I gave up a good posi- tion to run off with a scoundrel. We ‘went to Chicago—and he left me there. ‘My baby died and—’” Miss Grayson’s grip upon Peggy's ‘arm grew painful, and her confession halted as abruptly as though a hand ‘had been clapped across her mouth. Peggy felt cold. There was a look in 623 her companion’s eyes that spelled dis- aster for some one, and the smile that parted her hps was a ghastly thing to see. For a minute neither moved, and the house was deadly still from roof to basement. Then Miss Grayson’s grip relaxed; the look and the smile vanished, and she burst into a sudden flood of tears, out of which, with the assistance of Peggy's quickened sympathies, came the sobbing end or beginning of the confession. : ‘““I—I had to tell some one. People think me mad, and sometimes I think Iam. You were so happy—just as I was—and I thought you might under- stand. Pray that he’s good, Miss Graham—good and kind above every- thing! I hope you will be happy, and some nights I’ve asked God to take care of you, because you are so young and this man is all your life to you. “Perhaps I have been foolishly afraid for you. Some women can trust their hearts. I couldn’t. When I inet him [ ‘thought it was fate—that he was mine and mine only—made for me!” Her lps twitched and twisted. Peggy drew a long breath. “ How—how did you meet him?” she asked timidly, and Miss Grayson’s eyes dulled. “On a Staten Island ferry-boat. I was leaning against the rail on the up- per deck, watching an English steamer go but, when he came up to me and asked me if J was not Miss Moore. He said he had a shoe-buckle that—why— what’s wrong?” But Peggy did not answer. She slipped quietly—without a sound —to the floor at Miss Grayson’s feet, and lay very white and still. ON A QUACK DOCTOR. By William Wadd. Tis quack to Charon would his penny pay: The grateful ferryman was heard to say— * Return, my friend, and live for ages more, Or I must haul inv useless boat ashore!” : comicbooks CO