Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

~ 624 the elevator. It had been nothing serious, and Mrs. Brayton had been firm in her insistence that Mary should go and take the air. Nothing loath, Allan Kane had asked if he might accompany her. To Mary it seemed that the roller chair must be Cinderella’s coach. She must not step out of her rdle of the weary débutante. He talked of theaters, polo and golf, and mentioned names of prominent folk that Mary remembered having seen in the so- cial notes. Ii she could only have told him the truth, she would have enjoyed herself. As it was, she felt wicked, like some un- scrupulous adventuress deceiving a worthy man. Whatever Allan Kane may have thought, it was evident that Mary had cast a spell over him. He was frankly disappointed when their evening came to an end. He hoped that her aunt would be better, that perhaps they would go for a motor ride with him some time to-morrow. Might he phone to her room in the morning? Mary knew that she ought to say no; but she knew very well that she wouldn’t. She also thrilled at his evident pride as they crossed the lounge. A knot of disappointed men watched them walk toward the lift. They frankly envied Kane. He purposely ignored them. Then lighting his pipe, he went out for a stroll on the boardwalk alone. Old Lady Five-and-Ten was bright and cheerful in the morning. She seemed to be highly elated at what Mary told her. “Go with him, of course. You'll enjoy it,” she said of the motor ride. “ But he wants you, too!” “J imagine so!” Mrs. Brayton chuckled. “Why not ask him to breakfast with us? Tll suggest that you go alone—that I feel T should keep quiet.” “ Surely you see that it won’t do!” Mary shook her head. “I’m not what he thinks I am. He’d hate me if he knew. Ina way, I wish I’d told him.” “ Fiddlesticks!” Mrs. Brayton ex- claimed. “For the rest of the week you and I are just what we pretend. After that —well, perhaps—we’ll be some one else.” That settled it, and Mary and Kane lunched at a wayside inn. Their afternoon © ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. was marvelous, and Mrs. Brayton invited Kane to dine with them that evening. ‘Of course you don’t mind,” she whis- pered furtively to Mary. “ I’m forgetting it’s your money that’s footing all the bills.” Mary didn’t, and Kane proposed that they take in a theater. Mrs. Brayton thought that would be lovely; but she was much too tired. “No, indeed, my dear!” she objected, when Mary would have said no. “I won’t hear of your staying with me.” : In the morning the three were on the porch, comfortably settled in basket chairs, looking at the sea. Old Lady Five-and- Ten appeared to be in a thoughtful mood. Mary and Kane were chatting about those foolishly unimportant things that young people usually discuss in the presence of some one else. Suddenly Mrs. Brayton leaned forward in her chair. “Young man,” she interrupted Kane, ‘““ did you say you were a lawyer?” “Why, yes,” admitted Kane, as though accused of one of the cardinal sins. “Then suppose we go into the writing room. J want to make a will.” Mary gaped at her in amazement. “ I’ve changed my mind, and I’m going to leave all that I have to Mary.” Was the old lady mad, or was it her aim to try to impress the man? Embarrassed and furious, Mary tried to postpone her determination. : This would make her more ridiculous when Kane should learn the truth. Some- thing told her that he would—perhaps that very evening. If he said what she thought he was going to say, she would have to tell him. Her protests were unavailing. The will was drawn, signed and sealed, and put in. the hotel safe. Upstairs in their room, Mary reproached Old Lady Five-and-Ten. “Now you’ve made it ten times worse!” She sobbed her disappointment. ‘“ He'll imagine I’m an heiress.” “Well, aren’t you?” Mrs. Brayton asked. ‘“ Didn’t you inherit a thousand dollars in cash? When I die you'll have everything that belongs to me. But you'll find he isn’t interested in you on that ac- count.” 9A micboo (E@) <S con