Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

GRAFT. en me with ‘ consequences ’ if I don’t make him do it! Consequences! What conse- quences? Tell me!” Dunning’s temper was almost out of hand, now; yet still he tried despairingly to hold it in check. It was for this reason probably, rather than through any desire for melodramatic effect, that he leaned for- ward in his seat, and with an impressive forefinger emphasized the words that he hissed through clenched teeth. “The consequences,” said he, “ will be that you’ll have for enemies certain men who will stop at nothing. That your life, as well as the lives of Phil and Ayres, won’t be worth a punched nickel. That the names of those two girls will be dragged in the mud until no decent woman will dare be seen speaking to either—”’ Stopping short in his harangue, Dunning sprang to his feet as a door, leading to an adjoining room, which had furtively opened for an inch or two without his perceiving it, now closed with a little slam. From behind it there came the sounds of a slight scuffle and of muffled, beseeching voices, speaking so low that no words could be distinguished. Taking a long stride, Dunning laid his hand on the knob. “Don’t open the door!” called Peggy’s voice, from within. “l’m—TIm not dressed.” ‘Dressed or not,” growled Dunning, * you'll come out here and—” He finished his sentence by pushing at the door. It was not locked; there was no lock on it. Yet it resisted him, because it was held on the farther side. He drew back for a little distance, in order to throw his weight against it. No young girl could have moved more quickly than Aunt So- phronia then moved. Darting to the door, she placed her back against it, and stood facing Dunning. “Tf you were silly enough to forget that there were two girls here, who’d be perfectly sure to overhear what you said, that’s your fault, Wash Dunning,” said she. “ You’re not going to drag ’em in here, and try to bully ’em. Keep away from this door! Don’t you dare come near it—not a step closer, or —”’ “Or you'll scream?” hissed Dunning. 763 “Is that what you’d say? Well, you won’t scream while I’m here to choke it off. And I'll see that those girls hold their tongues or=”” Dunning was like a madman now. In- deed, for the moment he actually was a madman. For years he had been the suc- cessful go-between chosen by politicians of the most practical sort. During those years his brain had devised and executed more dark and devious plans than he could begin to remember. Yet, when it came to a mat- ter that vitally concerned himself, his anx- iety to effect the compromise he offered, and knowing the inexperience of Aunt So- phronia, he had permitted himself to over- look the fact that those two girls would in- evitably be near her in her apartment, and, being near her, must inevitably overhear what he had to say. The realization of such a thing was enough to madden any man. It was a knock at the door that had inter- rupted him, and this same knock restored a measure of his normal shrewd sanity. Un- consciously he had crouched, his fingers hooked, his attitude that of some beast about to spring. Now he straightened. “Come in!” called Aunt Sophronia. It was Phelim who came. From a finger of one great, red paw, incongruously dan- ‘gled Aunt Sophronia’s black-satin reticule. Unheeded, he allowed it to fall, as for an instant he stood, looking from his former mistress to Dunning, and back again. Then, with a threatening lightness remarkable in so burly a man, he moved quickly forward. ** Don’ lay hands on him, Phelim,” said Aunt Sophronia. “ Just tell him to go away, that’s all.” With obvious reluctance, Phelim obeyed. “There are two ways av leavin’ this room,” said he. ‘“ One is by the windy— the other by the door. Take yer ch’ice.” Taking the choice, and also the hint, Dunning departed. Phelim followed him along the carpeted passage, toward the ele- vators. Save for themselves, and a shab- bily clad mechanic who was busied with some electric wiring on a wall, the broad corridor was empty. As Dunning passed, this man stole a glance at him. Phelim caught sight of the profile thus exposed. COMMICLOOOkKS (C@