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

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

732 “T’m never going back to Scranton, only as far as New York, to find another place where I can hide and earn my living—till I’m recognized, and have to move on again. Isn’t it hard that people won't ever let you live things down?” So she was trying the sob stuff on him! He’d had a flash of her temper the day before and he knew she would give him short shrift now if she had nothing to con- ceal. On the other hand he had every- thing to learn if he pretended to fall in with her game and could catch her off her guard. “Is that what you’re doing? Why do you stick to the same line, then, that you pulled when you were working in with the Dobson gang? I should think:a manicuring table in a hotel barber shop would suit you better—more like old times. It stands to reason the bulls are going to pull the rec- ords on you whenever they spot you in a new lay.” Lacy Regnier bit her lip but her tone was almost saintly in its gentle resignation as she replied: ‘No, I’m more used now to pretty sur- roundings and quiet, and the work of a parlormaid isn’t hard. I’ve been very happy this past year, and if only poor Mr. Monckton hadn’t been killed and you come to try to drag me into it! But I suppose I must go on paying and I shouldn’t com- plain.” “What makes you say I came to drag you into it, or give you away?” Phil Howe asked with a beguiling note of sympathy. “YT didn’t act like it, did 1? I could have gone straight to Mrs. Miller or the old man’s lawyers, but as it is you’ve left of your own accord, and a reference from there after holding your position so long ought to be worth having.” “Vou didn’t snitch on me because you wanted to get something out of me!” she accused, with a return of her natural manner. “ Sure I did!’ he responded in perfect good humor. ‘“ I wanted a line on the other servants and I thought you’d be reasonable and give it to me. We're going to New York, you tell me? Are we walking there, or is a station somewhere down the line?” They had come to the end of the lane, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. where it turned into the broad road running parallel with the turnpike and Lucy pointed. ‘““There’s something better—a garage. We can hire a car to take us to the next station on the line. Oh, think of the re- porters and police detectives there’! be on the trains because of the funeral to-day! If we could only—”’ She paused, and Phil understood. Well, why not? It would mean a prolonged téte-d-téie, but if he could convince her that he believed she was running straight she might let something slip. “Say, why not motor in all the way to the city? We ought to be able to make it in a couple of hours with any kind of a car and I asked you to go for a ride with me, didn’t I?” he urged. ‘‘ How far is this garage?” “Only just around that turn ahead. That’s what I meant to do if I was alone, but maybe they won’t have a car.” Lucy spoke uncertainly and then flashed him a sad little smile. ‘‘ Where is our ride to end, Philip? At headquarters?” ‘“ Aw, you know better than that!” Phil exclaimed reproachfully. ‘‘ Anywhere you want to go, of course, and if they haven’t a car they can tell us where we can get one.” But when they came to the small garage and service station, a dingy and rather ramshackle sedan was available and the mechanic lounging about volunteered to take them to the city for a flat rate of twenty-five dollars. ‘“ An open car would have been nicer—”’ Lucy began doubtfully. “Still, if this bus can travel, it’ll be better than the train,’ suggested Phil. “Where are we going?” . “To one hundred and forty New Golder’s Green Road,” she answered. “ It’s a little street in the Bronx only lately cut through, but if this boy don’t know how to find it—” “TI know it, all right,” the mechanic volunteered... ‘‘ My sister lives near.” The arrangement was concluded and they started along the road, the roar of the motor settling into a steady, high- pitched, singing hum that made Phil nar- row his eyes. The car was evidently as- sembled of many heterogeneous parts, but Eomichooks (S@)