Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 102: what you’re looking at

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728 “ And you,” Seagrave said. ‘Grace is over at the next door neigh- bor’s,” Ruth said. ‘“ She'll be back pres- ently.” “ Ruth,” Seagrave asked, “ what was that man Miller doing here just now?” “He’s Allison’s representative,” Ruth said. “‘T know it, and he’s just about the kind of representative Allison would have. What did he want?” “It was only a matter of business,” Ruth said. ‘“ He merely came to ask if I would see him at the office to-morrow. There were some papers he wanted to have drawn up before he came if I would see him.” “Are you going to buy stock in Alli- son’s company?” Seagrave asked. “ Sure- ly not.” * T’ve been watching Allison’s company for some time,”’ Ruth said. “Do you know that Allison was arrest- ed for driving his car while he was intoxi- cated?” Seagrave asked. ‘ T hadn’t heard of it,” Ruth answered coolly. ‘‘ It wasn’t in the morning paper.” “No; Holmes had kept it out. Holmes owns the paper, you know. Allison came whining to him late last night, and he had the news suppressed.” “ Thornton isn’t a friend of Allison’s, is he?” Ruth asked. ‘‘T should say not. He’s going to put Allison in jail before he’s through with him. I don’t know that I’m at liberty to mention that, but I’m mentioning it to you so that you will be on your guard.” “ Well, I’m grateful,” Ruth said. She did not look as if she were grate- ful. She looked as if she were only amused. -Seagraye felt his throat tighten as he saw how kind and sweet she looked with that amusement glimmering in the depths of her handsome eyes. She was more like the Ruth of old. But he caught himself up. He had to wait. “ How did Allison get into that condi- tion?” she asked. ‘“‘ Radcliffe gave a party for me,” Sea- grave answered. ‘ Poker party. He had whisky for all of us. were there and two other men.” Miller and Allison © ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “You didn’t drink?” she asked in a low voice. “The party was given in an effort to get me to drink,” Seagrave said. ‘“ Radcliffe practically asked me to get hold of Olney’s plans. Of course, I refused. Allison wants to sell you stock in his company. They had some sort of notion that if I yielded to temptation I would be a handy tool for them. I didn’t fall for it, though.” Ruth clasped her hands in her lap and her eyes fell. ‘“ Was it hard to refuse?” she asked. “‘ It was a fine thing to do.” “Well, it wasn’t hard, and there was nothing fine about it. I didn’t want it. I said, ‘ Thank God, I’m through with that stuff.’ ” He was watching her closely. He hoped for a sudden lift of her eyes with thank- fulness in them. A glad cry might even come from her. But she only nodded her head slowly. ‘‘ In time that might make you safe,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘““T’m safe now,” he said. They were silent for a moment. did not at once look at him. “‘ Allison and Radcliffe on the one side, and I on the other, had a little mix-up outside the station after Holmes had Allison, released,” Seagrave said. “I quit Rad- cliffe.” “It was the only thing you could do,” she said. “ What are your plans now?” “1’m looking for a job,” he said. “Is there an opening at the Seagrave foundry?” She looked up, and he saw a queer look vanish from her eyes. She smiled now with. eyes and lips. “* Certainly,” she said. “I can use a good man. We shall need salesmen on the road as soon as Olney’s new stove is ready.” “Tm not going on the road,” he said. “I’m going to stay right here in Hartwell.” ““ Come to see me in the morning,” she said. “ll find something for you.” She tried to speak calmly, but he de- tected a little fluttering of her hands. “Ruth,” he said tensely, “isn’t this. ridiculous? Why we can’t we take up where we left off?” Ruth | Gomichbooks.co | Cs. aye a aa are