Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF tive land, and you’re in your sane senses, I may have permission to tell you. I don’t know. But as for.the girl having any con- nection with Mary or with Sally Noble—”’ he-laughed loudly, weirdly! “Rot be hanged!” Horace interrupted ‘mercifully. ‘‘ There was no woman in that armor, Will; no woman could have taken the punishment they handed that old tin soldier without dropping dead! They do say it’s Sam Risdon, but I doubt—” ‘“‘ Listen, Horace!” William growled. “Never mind that. What about Mary?” “Why; she’s over there now!”’ “With any one?” “ With the knight in armor, of course!”’ Horace said astonishingly. a That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Bill. I found them again. They’re dancing and cooing!” “ And you’re dead sure it’s Mary?” “ Just as certain as I can be without tearing off the girl’s mask,” Horace chuck- led unpleasantly. ‘‘ Y’ know, I thought you’d like to know, and I’ve been at some pains to find out and tell you. ‘‘Mary changed her dress, but she for- got to change her hair and the big black lace scarf she wore over it. Bill, they have to move pretty fast to get by me when once I start out to—” ~ ‘‘ What color dress is she wearing?” Wil- liam demanded, as he buttoned his coat. “ Eh? Light blue! ” Only a man as strong as William Emer- son could have failed to begin raving about this time. William shut his teeth and looked quickly from one to the other of his friends. Their faces told him nothing. Thomas looked quite serene; Sally Noble was puz- zied beyond any words; her husband, al- beit he mouthed now and then, appeared to have attained the state of a mental cipher. While Horace, smilmg placidly, expect: antly, was sure of himself and— . “TH get to the bottom of it!” William said briefly. ‘‘ Horace, this is a serious matter for the—the cman in the case. For the last time, it’s somebody in armor with Mary?” “Why, Bill, of course it is!” Horace protested testily. ‘I know what I’m talk- .Ing about. shook me first; she’s with him now. ' passed from sight. THE BRIDE. She was with him when they That’s the whole thing, open and shut. Your wife’s carrying on with another man, and I thought you ought to—”’ “T’ll get him!” stated William, as he patted his gun and sped out of the apaft- ment! Horace, pleased, rolled up the old gown, tucked it under his arm and loitered after slowly. It was his part in life to create, not to mix in, trouble. William raced; Horace sauntered. ‘The fool! The fool!” gasped Mrs. Noble. ‘““ Which—one?”’ Peter asked throatily. “You!” hissed his bride. ‘‘ Don’t. speak to me!” : And she, too, snapped into activity and She crossed the hall and slammed the door behind her. Peter looked around wildly. “Tom!” he choked. ‘Is there any— any truth in what Emerson said?” “Pete,” said Thomas, rather solemnly, ‘as Heaven is my judge, there is not! Lord! Don’t you know that?” ‘“ JI—such a thing never entered my mind!” Peter stammered. ‘ What is it all about?” “TIt’s—largely about Mary, I think,”’ shuddered Thomas, as he thought of the weirdly empty flat behind him. “You arranged to take her to the ball?” ‘‘ I—yes!” “You started something that time, Pete. Sit down and I'll try to tell you about it.” “T can’t, now,” Peter said hastily. “ Tl have to go and try to quiet Sally. She'll have locked herself in the bedroom by this time. She does that!” “She does?”’ “ She—she’s probably trying to commit suicide by this time!”’ Peter submitted, in- sanely. “ Probably!” Thomas agreed, without interest. “Tl have to go, now!’ Peter choked. He turned and fled. The door slammed after him, and this time, slowly, automati- cally, now that the need was all past, Thomas sprung the latch and looked about his deserted, blasted home. co MICO 655 YN S Colin