Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

TICKETS TO PARADISE. At this instant Hugh Lamberton did not present an appealing picture: he was mere- ly the rogue, horribly fightened at the sud- den discovery that his roguery, which he be- lieved to be cleverly concealed, was known. Sandisfield’s glance showed hearty con- tempt for this “weakness, rather than disap- proval of the crooked work. ‘“‘ What you going to do about it, Mart?” Lamberton mumbled. He voiced no further denial of guilt, knowing that denial would be useless. ‘‘ You ain’t said anything to Janice?” “Not yet I haven’t,” Sandisfield assured him. ‘“‘ Might be I won’t at all. I men- tioned the matter now because you were getting altogether too cocky about my pri- vate business, and to let you know I don’t pay your poker losses because I’m afraid of you. Ill admit I’d just as lief Jan didn’t know all there is, but I could probably slip around it some way or other, while you’d have one hell of a job getting out of the mess you’re sewed up in.” Sandisfield was silent for a moment; when next he spoke his voice fairly oozed unctuous benevolence. ‘‘ Janice would feel pretty bad to learn that the chap who’s been like a brother to her was a crook, and I’d like to spare her that. So mebbe we'll let the thing ride—for a spell.” “What’s the price?” Lamberton spoke up shrewdly. He knew Martin Sandisfield too well to be deluded by vain hopes of obtaining his immunity for nothing. “ That’s the stuff!’ Sandisfield applaud- ed. “ We’re beginning to understand each other better and better. Here’s what’s in my mind. Between you and I, Hugh, I ain’t making the progress with Janice that I’d like to. We get along so so, but when it comes right down to sentimental dealings Janice is kind of cold. I can’t put my finger on the exact trouble, but it’s there. Sometimes I’ve thought she didn’t quite trust me.” “Can you blame her?” Lamberton ob- served cynically. Convinced that his mis- deeds had a fair chance of going unpun- ished, the man’s characteristic free-and-easy manner was again asserting itself. Sandis- field saw fit to ignore the interruption. “ You've got quite a lot of influence with 485 Janice,’ he went on, “ just the same as you had with the old man. Janice is like him some ways; ready to think the best of people and overlook the worst. What I want is for you to use your influence in my favor. You’re with her a lot, and if the thing is worked properly you can swing her around my way. You want to avoid the mistake of laying it on too thick, or even an unsuspicious girl like Jan might smell a rat. Get me, Hugh?” “ Oh, yes, I get you,’’ Lamberton replied. ss Probably I can help you. What’ s in the game for me if I do?” “Why, this business of Janice’s estate won’t ever come up to plague you, for one thing. And we'll forget about the little loans I make you from time to time. Also, as a member of the family, I'll be glad to help you out now and then in the future— anything within reason.” ‘“That’s a fair break,” Lamberton ad- mitted. ‘‘ But suppose things slip. Janice is independent in her views, as you likely know well. I might find that she’s not tak- ing kindly to the notion of being Mrs. Martin Sandisfield, Jr. What then?” “That would be tough on you, my boy,” Martin informed him with a sad, sweet smile. “What do you mean?” Hugh Snapped uneasily. “There are just two alternatives to this proposition,” Sandisfield said. ‘ Either I marry Janice Lamberton, or you face the music for milking the Boxed J L ranch while acting as trustee of the estate. You can take your choice.” ‘“ But that’s no square game,” Hugh pro- tested hastily. ‘‘ Mebbe all I can do won’t bring her around. Don’t I get anything better than a jab in the eye with a sharp stick for my trouble?” Sandisfield laughed unfeelingly. “ That’s a good way to put it,” said he. “Point is, Hugh, that I don’t trust you too far. You ain’t got any more sense of honor than a locoed steer, and I heed a husky lariat to keep you tethered. It’s always been a mystery to me how Joe Lam- berton ever set such store by you.” “Humph!” Hugh grunted contemptu- ously. ‘“ How about yourself? You had GEomichbooks (E(@)