The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

a SEVEN MINUTES AFTER, 169 shoulder his eyes met Araminta’s, and the luminous clearness of her gaze, the gentle, almost simple expression around her per- fect mouth, reassured and made him ashamed of his doubt. Araminta was just a charmingly beauti- ful, brainless doll. She uttered her words thoughtlessly, but at heart she was sound. He smiled at her, as one smiles at a charm- ing child. “ Guess I'll have to let you see that let- ter ’—Tony felt in the pockets of his coat— “ doesn’t seem to be here; what did I do with it? David, did you—” “Put it in my pocket by mistake? Have you looked on the floor?” Stooping, David dexterously dropped the letter to the ground, ascertained that it was the copy that had been sent to Tony, and gave it to him with a smile. For a second he saw an expression of amazement cross Tony’s face, for he had been standing where his friend’s little ma- neuver was perfectly plain to him; but it was instantly replaced by a good-humored smile as ne gave the letter to Araminta, The girl handled it daintily, her face wrinkled into a little moue of disdain at the torn, cheap paper; but as she read on that expression of disdain vanished, and when she laid the letter upon the table, at last, David saw with a thrill that*her eyes were full of tears. She had a heart, then, to match her lovely face. What did ‘brains matter in a woman as beautiful and tender? Araminta stood up. ‘“‘ Oh, Tony; I hope you did something for the poor fellow,” she said eagerly, and with an impulsive gesture she turned the contents of her purse out on the table. “ Give ‘him this,” she said; ‘it is little enough, but it may help him to get a start. I’ve been so terribly extravagant lately I can’t let you have any more. I’m ashamed, now that I come across need like his.” Once more she indicated the letter lying between them. “ Bless your generous heart,” said Tony, making a handful of the bills and money and sweeping it back into her purse, rais- - ing his eyebrows at some of the denomina- tions as he did so; ‘ there’s enough there to start him in a farm, almost; but run along, Araminta, and forget it, The Scar- let Rider didn’t turn up this morning. Per- haps he had help through some one else.” “Perhaps he has been found by the po- lice, or something.”” She stood in perplex- ity, drawing her cloak around her slowly, then ther face brightened. ‘‘I know,” she cried. “ Willard can help after all. Isn’t he assistant to the commissioner of police? Oh, I know you’ve always said he didn’t do anything, Tony; thatshe was more of a loafer than any of the rest of that crowd; but don’t you see, here is a chance for him to prove himself, to show that the really can be of use, after all. He’d do anything, for me.” ‘“That doesn’t make him unusual,” Tony responded; “any of us would, and you know it. Look at David, now; he’s your abject slave. We all were, even back in the days when you had a fiendish temper and teased my goat. But don’t try Willard too far, he isn’t like the rest of us, exactly; and.as for helping out on this poor devil’s case, he’s already counseled me to put it into the hands of the police. That doesn’t Sound exactly sympathetic.” “Brute! He wasn’t a bit like that when he spoke to me this moming, though, Tony; he couldn’t remenrber bits of the letter—thal was what made me curious— but he thought there might be something true in it. Of course he wouldn't have the interest in it we all have, because /re wasn’t a child out at Shepherd.” It’s incredible you were!’ David broke in. ‘Tt is to myself, sometimes—” the eyes Araminta turned on him were very wistful; “other girls could put into words what it makes them feel, the change, the difference it has all made; but I’m so stupid, I can’t. But David, I feel that you’d always un- derstand.” . She dropped her voice; though Tony stood close ‘beside them, David felt for an instant as if he were alone with Araminta. Tony turned aside to hide a smile, though he was slightly, unaccountably irritated. Araminta could try her wiles with success on all the rest of mankind, but somehow, he wanted David to be free from them. David took things so hard, Another fel- comicbooksscom