The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

SEVEN MINUTES AFTER, that he remembered that the man he was going to see must have received one of the letters from the Scarlet Rider. This is, if David’s surmise had. been true. He dis- missed the remembrance hurriedly, wonder- ing what had brought it to his mind. Ah! . Robin had spoken of the Golden Trust Building. Suddenly a light flashed on his consciousness, Eleven o'clock — Golden Trust—this must have something to do with the letter, “Tom, old man,’ he said breathlessly, announcing himself to his astonished friend the moment after the door opened, “ had a ‘bieakdown; important appointment, and all that. Can I borrow your runabout?” “ Surest thing you know,” said Tom Ped- ley; “ll send James out to the garage now, Have a cigar, won’t your?” “ Nothing, thanks,” Tony called over his shoulder, following the amazed man-servant along the hall to the back entrance, and nearly falling over him in his haste. “ See you in the morning, old top; so long.” Robin climbed into her seat beside him without a word. For a moment Tony al- lowed himself the bliss of tooling the car along the broad, perfectly kept stretch of avenue with this wonderful girl at his side. Then he bent toward her, speaking quietly. ‘““ Robin, you said something about trust- ing me. Do you want to talk?” “T must,” the girl said in a low, dis- tressed voice, ‘ But first, I want to ask you a question. I was all strung up, I may have imagined it, but back there, when I was talking, did you or did you not see Araminta look frightened?”’ “Ves,” he said quietly, ‘when you showed her that automatic. And once he- fore, I think, when you were talking about that old convict. I thought it was because she—well—was annoyed at hearing 4 man of that kind mentioned in her home, Ara- minta always was a bit of a snob, you know; but thinking it over I’m pretty sure it was fright, not disgust.” Robin drew a long breath of relief. “That makes it certain; thanks.” “T know I’m butting in.” Tony waited a minute, trying to focus his ideas. “ But the fact is, there’s a chance of you making a mistake. I see, of course, that for some 181 reason you are suspecting Araminta Lether- by of something—something that you think is serious, anyhow. Still, you only met her to-night, didn’t you, and I’ve known her a long time, Araminta is all kinds of a fraud in her affectation of refinement and delicacy, but she’s really only a beautiful doll, you know; she couldn’t plot and scheme if she tried. Honest, I think you’ve gone off on the wrong track, there,”’ 2 “Tt's like you to tell nfe; just what you would have done when we were playing together out at Shepherd, all of us, but, Tony, ’m making no mistake. I met Miss Letherby for the first time to-night, actu- ally, yes, but I’ve known about her for a long time, Araminta Letherby isn’t one bit stupid; she’s a very clever and danger- ous person. ‘Think, how could she grow stupid all at once? Wasn’t she awfully shrewd and clever when she. was Minta Crane, that little ragged girl out West?” “You can’t remember her, though; you were just a baby.” “ You all thought so; it used to make me wild, But I was seven; I hated and feared Minta. I had reason; ch, won’t you believe al least that I have reason now for what I am saying?’ Her voice broke in a little, pathetic appeal. ‘ T’d believe you if you told me the moon was made of cheese,” the young man an- swered, without intending to be ridiculous, But quickly Robinetta’s clear laugh rang out. ‘* Thank you,” she chuckled, “ excuse me, but really, you’re awfully funny,” “T’m glad you find me so,” said Tony stiffly, He looked straight ahead, unable to hide his annoyance. He had put his heart into his words, and told himself grimly that it was his own fault for using the first that came to hand. But in the midst of a serious conversation with a young lady to whom ‘vou had vowed fealty in your heart—te have her laugh at your expression of it— Tony was not used to being laughed at by women, He set his eyes steadily on the hotel lights, now drawing very near. When Robin glanced up at his face she saw that his profile was cold and set, Timidly, she touched his arm, ConmiclooolkS.cCotin