Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

220 ‘Listen! Once you asked me to help her.. Will you do your share?” “ How?” “Go away with her. Stay with her. Take care of her at my Arizona ranch. Will you?” Beth considered, looking at the floor; and then she made a negative gesture. ““T am not free. I need every engage- ment I can get. If I cancel my present ones they will be hard to find in the future. I cannot!” His eyes looked contemptuous for an instant. He thought he saw selfishness, the sort which gives lip service and fails in a pinch; but it began to dawn on him that this self-supporting little musician was made practically penniless by the same invest- ments which had trapped Paula. In a flash of understanding he sensed her stark struggle against poverty, so that he was tempted to make an offer of personal aid; but his new and greater respect advised him not to. “I’m sorry,” he said, sincerely. “ Then I’m stumped!” . “Let me take her to my room,” offered Beth. “ That will get her away from here, anyhow. We cannot subject her again to this!” He thought it over. “Thanks; until to-night,” he decided. “Then she’ll take the train south.” He touched Paula on the shoulder, putting an end to further temporizing. “Come,” he said, gently. ‘“Let’s end this, then! Go upstairs and pack. Take enough things for a month. You’re going to be safe from now on. Safe!” She accepted the suggestion, arising some- what wearily. _ “And you?” she asked, looking at him with glistening eyes. “Pm going to stay for awhile.” “Ah, no. That would not be fair!” “Yes. I’m getting clearer ideas now. As soon as yow’re gone I'll turn over all my evidence to the Federal authorities.” “My heavens, no!” _“ There’s little danger. You'll not be implicated. I’m planning to scare this gang out of the city. Have you ever seen a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. bits for miles into a pen. Well, that’s my idea. I’m going to scare our rabbits clear into Arizona, into a trap, and I own the trap!” : He took her up the stairs and into her dainty room, with its deep blue carpet and ivory-colored furnishings, where he left her with Beth to pack her things. In less than an hour she returned downstairs, walking regally, wearing a beautiful gray tailored outfit and a veiled hat, apparently so placid and composed that Steve marveled at “the nerve which could buoy her so splendidly. Steve had rung for a taxicab. He helped Paula and Beth into it. ‘“‘T’ll get the tickets and the sleeper,” he promised. “I'll wire ahead to the ranch and tell ’em to clean the place. The, boys will meet you when you arrive. The train leaves here at seven. I'll see you at Beth’s house before six. We’re lucky it’s only a few blocks away.” He took Beth’s hand for an instant, look- ing into her eyes. ‘‘ Thanks,” he said, simply. ‘ We’ll meet again—many times!” Beth smiled at him. He felt more cheerful. Left alone in the house, with one appre- hensive colored maid belowstairs, he wrote letters and telegrams to Arizona and carried baggage downstairs. Then he started down town in a street car filled with sober folk, mainly women going shopping. He con- tinued to notice this rampant sobriety as he passed through streets teeming with traffic, and lines of attractive shop windows and fine buildings where the business of an active, hustling, breezy city hummed along. ‘“‘ Shucks!” he admitted, in the railroad office. “ The city’s all right. The whisky business doesn’t amount to anything!” And then: “‘ But it sure looks big when it’s close up! 2} He bought ticket and berth for Paula, went to a movie which depicted society, and, with impressions thoroughly muddled again, started for home late in the after- - noon. His footfalls seemed lonely in the splendid empty house, but he felt at ease in it now. He sighed with satisfaction, took off his coat, sank into an easy chair, lifted his feet into another chair, and unfolded the < _ rabbit-drive? The farmers scare the rab-~ pink sporting edition of a newspaper. - ~ comicbook com