Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

away from me! y, THUNDERING DAWNS. 15 mezzanine was almost deserted. He shoved his chair back, scrambling to his feet. ‘““ Here, now, Hull!” he blustered. “ Keep Remember I’m an officer. If you lay a hand on me—”’ “As yellow as ever,’ Stewart nodded. “Even that uniform you're a disgrace to, can’t make a rat into a bulldog. Don’t worry. I’m not going to touch you, and give you a chance to send me away again. Sit down!” Sanderson slouched back into his seat. For the first time, Stewart turned to the girl and recognized, with a sudden quicken- ing of pulse-beats, Martha Lane. If he had had the experience of Ed- mund Sanderson with womankind, Stewart would have interpreted the look she gave him correctly, and been flattered according- ly. An expert in those matters would have concluded that there had been a good many times during the last six months when the memory of a certain meeting in Central Park—but Stewart did not belong among the glib analysts of the hotel lounges. ‘‘1’m sorry you heard that,” he mumbled awkwardly. ‘ But as long as you did, I’m going to thrash it out here. This man has got to do some explaining. I know he’s related to you, and that finishes me in your estimation.” “Not at all,” she rejoined with spirit. “ Cousin Edmund and I disagree on a good many things. He’s only distantly related to me anyway, and since he is no longer my host—”’ “ Now, Martha,” Sanderson broke in, “there’s no need to go into that.” “T’ve heard the other side of the story from Harriet and you,” she explained, her eyes flashing. ‘“ He has just accused you of sending him away, and you want to avoid discussing it.” Sanderson’s lip curled maliciously. “ Ev- ery criminal says he has been railroaded. It’s an old story.” Stewart felt the muscles around his jaws harden. ‘“ You know better than that, San- derson. Some day I’m going to choke the truth out of your lying carcass. five years for justice. I'll wait five years longer if necessary.” eT A oe On Z You know who drove that car, — I’ve been waiting “Try it, Hull, and you'll go to Leaven- worth for twenty years. We’re in different positions now, remember. It’s all right to talk this way when we're alone, but try it some time before witnesses if you want a quick court-martial. Maybe you’d like me to spread your record around the camp.” There was a hard note in Stewart’s laugh. “You’re too yellow for that, Sanderson. Even if you could force-me out, which is doubtful, you realize too well what would happen to you when I became a civilian again. I could thrash you within an inch of your life, and you’d have ho military court behind you either.” Sanderson stood up nervously. ‘“ Come on, Martha. We can finish our talk some- where else.” “Our talk is finished,” she answered coldly. ‘“ Let’s not go into that matter again. Are you still for running away from Mr. Hull?” “Mr. Hull!” he snapped viciously. “Wait until you see your Mr, Hull jump- ing around when [I tell him to on the drill- ground. Keep in mind, too, your position here, living alone in a hotel, and entertain- ing enlisted men without a chaperone—bad enough if they were officers—” Stewart stepped close toshim, two cap- able fists clenched at his sides. To any one out of earshot, it appeared to be a proper position of attention assumed by a corporal addressing an officer. But Sanderson knew better. He turned away on his heel, and made for the stairs leading to the lobby. Near the doorway he paused to send a parting shot. “ By the way, Corporal Hull, you might be interested to know that I am one of the detail transferred to Company C. Better watch your step.” ; ‘“ Nice boy, that cousin of yours,’’ Stew- art grinned, returning to the chair Sander- son had vacated. “I’m glad that disposi- tion doesn’t run in the family.” She placed her hand lightly on his arm. “Do be careful of him,” she counseled unsmilingly. “I know it’s an awful thing to say of one’s relatives, however distant; but he’s not nice at all. I found out—so many things about him—living there with