Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

Z THE INNOCENT. 235 came to a halt. Steve jumped out. He stood on wabbly legs, rubbing his eyes and striving to throw off the numbness of his brain; and then he lurched along a con- crete floor to the vast covered train-shed. The mighty locomotive came up the track and rumbled toward him until it stopped with its great steam. chest just at the level of his shoulders. Baggagemen and porters scurried past. The side of the train became alive with descending figures. Travelers began to pass Steve. Suddenly he saw Paula in a new blue suit—Heaven knew- how she got it, but it fitted to per- fection—walking serenely down the plat- form with a fine-looking, dark-mustached man in business clothes and a golf cap, carrying a suit case. “‘ Mike Hamilton!” gasped Steve. Paula halted. Her eyes widened with amazement; Hamilton looked at Steve, frowned, and dropped his suit case with a bang. ‘“‘ What are you doing here?” he demand- ed curtly. “What am I doing— What— where did you get your nerve?” “Nerve?” snapped Hamilton. Paula held a restraining hand in front of him. Her voice was deep and vibrant, trembling with excitement. ‘““No! Michael, dear, let me speak to him! Please! Ah, please let me handle him!” “Let you handle me!” bleated Steve. “ Please, Michael! The poor boy has been bewildered, perhaps misled. He is not evil, really!” Steve tried to catch his breath. “No,” he gibbered! “ but I’m likely to be!”’ Hamilton turned to Paula. “T see no reason to bandy words with this rough relative.” ‘Ah, but he is my brother. I cannot let this breach widen if I can stop it, dear. Let me speak with him. After all, is it not better to have peace?”’ Hamilton’s fine eyes regarded Steve with- out warmth. “ T see no reason to couct this fellow’s favor, but if you desire it, my dear, I will = ” “Say, Steve clenched his fists, but Paula came straight in front of him, laying a gloved hand on his shoulder. “Let us have peace!” she pleaded. “Come! Let me speak with you!” He hesitated, but curiosity won. He al- lowed her to lead him to a quiet corner of a deserted waiting room. Suddenly she threw her arms around his shoulders and arm sling. Her head was laid back and her lips were smiling, but her eyes were moist. “Ah, my dear, good, kind, noble-hearted brother, how can I ever make amends to your How can I ever thank you for the happiness you have brought me? How can I ever hope to match your fineness, your generosity, your steadfastness, your great- ness of soul? Oh, my splendid brother, I owe everything to you!” Steve tried to draw away slightly. “What started this?” he wondered. She kept her arms about him. “TI realize you could not know. I will explain. I was quite unhappy at your ranch, although it was no fault of yours. I did not like it, my brother. I was moody and depressed. Natural'y I corresponded with all my old friends, including Mr. Ham- ilton. Without realizing how it might read, I wrote, among other things: ‘I am stay- ing here against my will, a prisoner beating my wings against the bars, unable to reach the freedom I long for, guarded by a strong-willed brother who commands men whose manners and usages I cannot ap- prove.’ Plain enough, you see; true enough. But poor, dear Michael read my letter in a different light—”’ “Great Scott!” “And nothing would suit his knightly soul but to come and rescue me. Every _ fine impulse, every bit of friendship and af- fection was aroused by my call; and he came to me—came to me when nothing else would seem to stir him.” Steve did not know what to say. “We were married at Phenix while changing cars,” she added. “Well, Ill be darned,” Steve. His sleepy, reddened eyes stared at her, dazedly at first, and then sternly. ‘But was it fair to cause me all this summarized