Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

= 52 “Very well »? she ad She rang for Wilkinson as soon as the veterinary had gone. - drawers until she found the letter that ; Michael Lebombard had inclosed with the — ‘pieces of her diamond bracelet. On it was -an address. She copied both it and his _ name on 2 fresh sheet of paper and handed © at to Wilkinson when he came in. “ Arrange with the express company,” 3 ’ she = said, “to have North Star shipped at once ~ to this man at this address. Send a tele- - gram to Mr. Lebombard stating that his dog is being returned to him, and advise - - him of the time and date of the dog’s ar- rival. State that the dog is suffering from mange. Tell him that my brother, in whose care he left the dog, is away on an indefinite trip and that I believe it advisable to re- - turn the dog in order that he may get the - personal attention he requires and which I - cannot give him here.” “Very good, Miss Marcia.” “Please see to this at once. If possible, get him off by an evening train.” : Wilkinson left the EGORE and Marcia’s eyes fled at once to the clock. twenty-seven minutes after three. She de- cided to receive Robbins in the drawing- -- room. She would make an effort to force, if possible, an open break. She put on her hat and neckpiece. | She went downstairs and entered the - drawing-room as a clock in the hall chimed the half hour. She seated herself as far - from the door as possible. - strengthen a sudden determination that she would refuse to permit him to kiss her. - She lowered her veil. Five minutes passed - before Wilkinson came in. “T thought you were upstairs, Marcia. Mr. Robbins is waiting.” “Ask him to come down here.” ~ “Yes Miss Marcia.” - She planned a femdeek openings. Robbins noted the lowered veil and checked an intended embrace. Perhaps it was just as well, he decided. There was an urgent matter of a business nature that ae creditors made it imperative for him to -bring up. He needed money, a lot of money; at once. He felt a great confidence in his Miss - “Thank you.” She went to her desk ~ and mulled among the papers in one of its _ It was. financial affairs, wrong. But she = @ woman. She: tried to : be? dragged ‘her to her feet. rigid. protest in her body.— | “raised her veil and crushed her to him. aEbe= Se ; G (6) _ARGOSY-ALLSTORY - WEEKLY. never refuse him ayes No Bal ever had. “Vou — we. = don’t have to start until after four, dear, ”” he said, and sat down. Her openings. scattered to the winds. “Tn an hour,” she said. “ There’s something I want Ou to do for me, dear. Will you?” Her heart missed a beat. Some Te intuition warned her that luck was about to break.” - ee What?” she asked. se Lend me some money. I’m in a hole and will be tied up for the next few weeks. T need ten thousand to tide me over. z. She resisted the desire to close her eyes, but stared at him quite calmly as she heard | her own voice saying: “ On what security?” ~The word took the wind from Robbins. It shocked him into positive amazement. ‘There had been no hint—no warning. T he flare-up when he bad struck that damned dog was already erased from his memory. The word was a trap diabolically opened beneath his feet and through which he felt — a definite sensation of falling. To what? a Security?” — ——— « Yes. We've never really discussed j your have we?” ‘He stared back at her, astounded. Some- thing was wrong — suddenly — incredibly ~ And all women are alike. He’d eased up a bit on the petting since ‘the night of the bench show. That was it! His hitting that damned dog and the ease-up on the petting. He got heavily from his chair. “ What’s wrong, dearest?” he said. “Wrong? Nothing. Why should there No—please—T'd rather not—not to- day—”’ He looked at er in Sole It was a stall. They all stalled. But he had no time for coaxing. He needed that check — before they went to the Van Horns. ‘had to do was to get his arms around her. All he They were strong, dusky arms. ways worked, — > He reached down and took het hands and He ignored the They al- cComicbooks - Marcia would not refuse, would = He clumsily — m