Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

SENOR JINGLE BELLS. dropped from the body of Nichols; he stood before her like a thoroughbred trembling at the post and ready for the race—so eager were his eves, so tensed was his smile. ‘‘Dear Hugh,” said she, ‘I’m as grate- ful to you as though everything had worked out as you planned.” ‘Only tell me one thing,” said he, still holding her hands. ‘‘ How has vour father managed? I didn’t have a chance to talk to him about it last night.” ‘He is saved.” ‘“ Pegoy, I have guessed at a devilish Strange thing. It is this E] Cantor?” C¢ Yes.’ ‘You sold yourself to him?” ‘“ Hugh, he wouldn’t have me, at the last minute.”’ “Why, Peggy, no wonder. We were out- Side the doors making it too hot for him!” “No, no!” She raised her hand to stop him. “But what else?” he asked. ‘“ Nothing could have stopped him if he had wanted to do it. I know nothing could have stopped him!” The smile of Hugh Nichols was wan. “You'll make him out another Napo- leon,” he said. “Do you know,” said the girl slowly, “that I almost feel that way about him— as though there were a fate working in him.” ‘“Nonsense, Peggy! You’ve had too much excitement lately. There is no fate in that cunning rascal.” ‘Can you explain, then, why the ‘ ras- cal’ has thrown away sixty-five thousand dollars?” “Ah? Unsecured?” ‘“Not a penny of security, except the honor of my father.” ‘“An ample bond even for a thief,” said Hugh Nichols. ‘Not among bankers, when we wanted help. No, Hugh, there is something strange about him—something more than meets the eve.” ‘You are afraid of him?” “Fear? Well, I suppose that I am.” They sat beside the window, he feeling that he had been pushed away from her by their few moments of conversation. ) 927 ‘“And what will he do now?” asked Nichols. ‘““T have less idea than you have.” ‘“T have a very clear one. He will use the first opportunity to hound you into a marriage, claiming your promise.” ‘“ He surrendered that claim.” ‘““When he was afraid that the rope would be around his neck the next mo- ment.”’ “ Hugh, vou are unjust to him.” ‘““My dear Peggy, you are interested in that rascal. On my honor, you are!”’ cc J?” Her laughter grew weak and then broke sharply off. She found herself staring at Nichols. “Do you think so?” she asked. don’t know, really.” Poor Nichols gaped. ‘“ Good gad, Peggy,” not meaning that I right?” “I don’t know what I’m meaning, except that my head swims. I can’t understand him, Hugh.” “ But, Pegay, to think seriously of such a —a fellow of—of wild reputation— By Heavens, Peggy, vou don’t mean that you are seriously fond of him?” ‘““T never put that question to myself un- til this moment, Hugh.”’ “But the answer has to be only one thing—that of course such a supposition is perfectly absurd. Say that, Peggy. Other- wise, I'll lose my mind. Because—”’ She could see by the brightness of his eyes what was coming, he was so picked up and carried away by his own emotion. She tried to stop him by raising her hand. But he shook his head as though to brush aside her protest. ‘Because I’ve come down here with a heart on fire with very high hopes, Peggy. I’ve come down here trusting that you would not have called on me for help unless you thought kindly of me—trusting, Pegev, that I might dare to tell you something which has been in me for a long time—that I love you, Peggv!” She had twisted her hands together and watched him with a look of regretful wist- fulness. “wT said he, “ you are guessed seriously GIOok