The All-Story, March 1914 — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

A GENTLE KNAVE. white house you passed a ile back,” he told ime calmly. “What are you giving me?” “The truth! Yodd and Filson start- ed for town an hour ago; they can't get back before morning.” I must have still looked suspicious, for he stopped smiling, and the little snap came into his eyes again. ‘‘ Believe me or not, as you please.” - With that, he yawned and settled his head more comfortably against the chair. ~ [believed him. Alen with eyes like his don’t lie. For a moment I had a notion of putting him on his honor; then realized that it would take more gall than I had to ask hin to promise not to move while I lifted his valua- bles trom under his very nose. _ “T suppose you would object to me getting my handkerchief?” he asked. . Haughed, and taking a perfectly clean one from my pocket, handed it to him. He wasn’t going to get a chance to slip his hand in his pocket if I knew it. He sighed again as though awful tired. PT don't want it, after all; but you might take mine from my breast-pocket there and lay it across any right hand, a I need it again.” There could be no harm in that, I thought; so, before he had finished telling me, [ had taken the Ing silk handkerchief I hadn't noticed before and dropped it over his hand. I didn’t stop there. No sir-ee! I’m too quick- witted for that. Seeing it there gave fme an idea; and, quicker’n scat, I passed it on around and tied it tight. My handkerchiei did for his other hand; and 1f ever you saw admiration ma man’s eyes, it was in his when he seen what I'd done. “With that keen mind of yours, you fought to be a great financier!“ he said, and his voice was positively awed. * “Maybe I will be—after to-night,” Itold him, with a wink. ‘f Now, I'll just tle you up a little tighter, and then Till start in being a financier.” “There’s that afghan over there.” be suggested, when he saw me looking lash aeh> 5 637 around for something. “Here! Run it through the chair-arms above my knees, and then wrap it round and round my Jegs and the foot-rest at the same time.” “And tie it down here where you can’t reach it if you do get loose,” I added. “It ll keep you warm, too; you seem sort of shivery.” He looked up at ime, his eyes getting wide. “Who would have thought of that but you? I am cold,” he said and laid his head back deeper in the chair. 1 brought an overcoat from the couch and tucked it over him. I saw no reason why he shouldn't be cotn- fortable while I was picking him. That done, I stood and looked down at him, my hands cleep in my pockets. I knew I ought to gloat over having one of the oppressors of the poor tied up like a bunch of asparagus and at my mercy. ‘That slavering old anarchist, Burkett, and all the other long-haired ranters I'd listened to for the past month, had said I should. I'd sworn on the head of a molasses barrel in Prochasky’s cellar, by the light of a tallow-dip, that I'd help all I could in a more just division of wealth. Id growled “ Down with the rich! and “Up with the laboring man!” and [I hadn’t touched my cap to the Senator when I caught his hat that had blown off: but tossed it into the car with a “ There you are, Besom,” that had made him gasp. There was something about this man, though, that was different. I didn’t know why I should feel so, but every time he looked at me with his clear, gray eyes I felt like a hound-dog caught with a sheep. It wasn't because he was rich and educated, and I wasn't; it wasn't be- cause he looked clean and handsome in a sort of purple gown that had green devils chasin’ snakes all over it, and a diamond ring on his finger, or velvet slippers on his feet. It was something in the man him- self that made my eyes shifty overs.