Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

106 ‘“‘ All?” he exclaimed, astonished. ‘Miss Fargo, for example,” she charged, watching him steadily. “Miss Fargo is my secretary.” “ Of course.” “And a very nice little girl.” “T am not saying anything against the lady’s character.” Virginia’s lips curved in derision. The flush in her cheeks grew deeper. “And yet you kiss her!” she charged, suddenly. “Qh, that!’ he remarked, smiling. “ But I didn’t; she kissed me.” “Can you tell me what difference that makes?” she demanded, her lips now in straight lines, being firmly pressed together. “Perhaps it wouldn’t make much differ- ence to an observer,” he replied, feeling that Gibson had told her of what had happened. “But the one who was kissed would know the difference.” “A kiss is a kiss,” she said coldly. “Ves: of course. But—” “ And a woman wouldn’t kiss you unless you wanted her to.” Virginia was standing very rigid now. Her head was raised proud- ly, there was disdain in the glance she threw him. “Of course, it isn’t anything to me,” she continued. ‘‘ You are at liberty to kiss any girl you want to kiss—or who will let you. But I just want you to know that you can’t come here and treat me like you treat other girls. You hadn’t been here more than a week before you were telling me that you loved me! I want you to know that I don’t believe love comes to anybody that quickly!” “You don’t, Virginia?” he insisted gen- tly. He was not unmindful of the telltale crimson that stained her cheeks, and al- though he had had little experience with women, he was not unaware that jealousy is not without significance. Yet he was too full of wisdom to permit her to see that he knew. To betray his knowledge would be fatal. “And yet I loved you from the first, Vir- ginia.”’ She laughed mirthlessly. “Did you tell Miss Fargo the same thing?” she asked. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Virginia.” “Weill?” ‘Do you know Ben Baxter?” “Of course.” ‘“ Do you know how gentle he is? How brave? How self-sacrificing? De you know how magnetic he really is; how quick- ly one gets to loving him?” ce Yes.” “ Do you know that he has regained con- sciousness, and that he has told us what happened that night?” “J heard that.” ‘““ And do you know that Miss Fargo had been sitting within a few feet of Baxter, in the office, for a great many days?” “Well?” “And do you know that after Baxter was hurt Miss Fargo spent more than half her time helping to nurse him?” Virginia looked swiftly at him. ‘“T didn’t know that,” she admitted. ‘“ But you know how Baxter makes peo- ple love him—without any effort on his part?” Virginia was silent. ‘“ Virginia,” continued Cameron, “ some time between her first meeting with Baxter and the morning he regained consciousness, Miss Fargo fell in love with Baxter. On that morning she was telling me about it. She felt so happy that she kissed me— kissed me because I praised Baxter. “Joe Gibson was standing in the door- way. He saw her kiss me. Virginia, Miss Fargo isn’t the girl I want to kiss.” But Cameron perceived that Virginia did not believe him. She stood, looking straight at him, her gaze coldly incredulous, her lips slightly derisive. ““ Mr. Cameron,” she said, ‘‘ you are very clever. But I think you are not very deep. What you did to Miss Fargo is ne concern of mine. But there is always fire where there is smoke.” “Tt was such a little kiss, Virginia.” Virginia turned her head. She did not answer. “On the side of my mouth, Virginia. Miss Fargo meant well, but I moved my head.” “That doesn’t concern me, Mr. Cam- eron. Perhaps you didn’t try very hard.” oO ComicoookKks (C@