Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

_ SEE AMERICA FIRST. success. Sometimes he went out to the wagon-shed and sat solemnly in the mo- tionless Tin Lizzie, now his own, and told himself how happy he was. But down m his heart he mourned for Bruce Ray as for one gone beyond the grave. Thug on the night of the dance he left his place among the wall-flowers early and stole out under the stars. Habit took him to the wagon-shed, where he sat smoking and thinking sober thoughts. - Two figures stopped before the open door of the shed and began to talk. One of them was Sid Wilcox.’ There was no mistaking that ladylike voice with its slight Wally Newell listened with a lively in- terest. He was astonished to learn that the dancing teacher was back. Honest John had plainly intimated to him that Sid Wilcox had gone, and would. never return so long as he was proprietor of Burke’s Summer and Winter Resort Hotel. Honest John had further said that Sid was a lily-fingered, sore-eyed little white rat, ' who rightfully ought to be standing in a store telling ladies the hosiery counter was - three aisles to the right and straight ahead, only he hadn’t guts: enough to come that close to holding down a man’s job—and Wally had agreed with him. Now Sid was back at Skookum Inlet, so Wally listened curiously. Sid’s companion was Micky, the dirty- faced boy mechanic of Honest John’s garage. “Now, Micky,” Sid Wilcox was sayimg, ‘“‘ you’re sure there isn’t another car beside Burke’s? I don’t want anybody followmg us and making trouble.” “ Nobody’s going to get you if you take the boss’s car and me driving it,” Micky assured him. ‘“ Kid, Pm some driver when I cut her joose, I'll tell the world. But it’s worth half a century t’ me.” “You'll get it.” Yeah. Now I'l get it. with the jack, Sid.” “TI think you’ré very sempicloos, ” Sid protested feébly. as something passed be- tween them. “ Now, are you satisfied?” ‘‘ Another thing, Sid. Y’ want to look Come through acting toward Bruce! out for that red-necked logger, Bruce Ray. He’s stuck on Fancy. If he gets wise to you he’ll raise hell.” “Huh! Don’t you worry about that. Nor Honest John Burke either. long as he hasn’t anything to follow us in, I'll get that girl away from here, and be- fore they find us we’ll be married.” ‘“ Some bride and groom, Bo; some bride and groom!’ Micky chuckled, and they passed on. Wally Newell sat bolt upright, blinking into the dafk. So Sid Wilcox planned to kidnap Fancy! He was first conscious of a feeling of great relief. He hoped Sid Wil- cox would succeed. It also occurred to him that Sid could carry out his plan without trouble if only he remained silent about what he had over- heard. And Fancy Burke was Wally’s first, second and third choice for the danc- ing man’s wife. What Fancy might thmk about it, he did not much care. The notion was a tempting solution to his worries and threatening unhappiness. For some little time he entertained it. Un- til he thought of Bruce Ray. What sort of way was this for him to be Going back on a friend, him, Wally Newell! Bruce wanted Fancy for himself—had as good as got her —and here he was sittin’ out there m a shed doin’ nothin’ while that soprano- voiced, sweet-scented little skunk was plan- nin’ to steal Fancy away! In the dark Wally Desacied hotly with shame for himself. He followed the blush by leaping out of the Tin Lizzie and making a bee-line for the parior where the dance was being held. VI. HoNEST JOHN BurRKE thought fast for a fat man. He went into action before Wal- ly had sketched the bare outline of his news. He streaked down the hall of his hotel, past the parlor where the dance was at its height, head down, bowling guests from his path. Wally followed close in his wake. parlor door, looking for Fancy Burke, who had slipped from the room, saw them and Just so: (CO an Cc IB COOL 437 | Bruce Ray, peering idly from the | (COL