Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

DAMMING HAIRPIN CANON. that account he was holding back. It seemed to be out of a feeling of loyalty to you. “Now, surely there is nothing of such moment in a private secretary’s duties,” he urged, “as to justify him in this stand. So I was wondering if maybe you would not speak to him, and release him to me. “He wants to come. He realized that it is a great opportunity for him. But he says that he must remain here, until he has settled certain matters for ou.” : “T see,” Molly nodded. ‘ That is foolish of him of course. I will speak to him for you, Mr. Blair, if—when he comes.” She arose and went again to the window, returning to her seat with an anxious shake of the head. Blair, too, was beginning to look un- easy. “It's commencing to get quite dark,” he said. ‘“ Are you sure that nothing could happen to Gladys, Miss Todd? Possibly, she has got lost?” “Phat would be rather difficult,” Molly pointed out, “ with the lights of the house always visible to guide her back.” They sat on talking to cover their anxiety. The dinner hour was now long past, and still there was no sign of the two absentees. To relieve J. P.’s growing nervous- ness, Molly, although she still insisted that no possible harm could have be- fallen Gladys, summoned Big Bill and instructed him to have a thorough search made of the grounds. Then they settled down once more to making conversation. “Vou have a very remarkable estate, Miss Todd,” said Blair. “Shows what can be accomplished in this country by proper irrigation. I was greatly interested in your results, as I have been planning something of the kind myself. About a year ago, I bought up that plateau on the Bridger County side of Hairpin Cafion, and—” 533 But just then Jarley appeared to an- nounce that Mr. Blair was wanted on the telephone, and, plugging in, handed him the instrument. “ Hello!’ Molly heard him answer a trifle shakily. “Yes, this is Blair speaking. Oh, hello, Crawford. I was wondering who would call me up out here. “What's that?’ His voice rose toa sudden startled pitch. “ Say it again. Gladys and Norman Rich have eloped? How do you know? They passed you in a flivver together about fifteen minutes ago, and. stopped to tell you to notify me? Which way did they—”’ But he had to stop and cut off then, in order to render assistance to his hostess, who had toppled over from her chair to the floor. For the first time in her life, Molly Todd had fainted. In a few minutes, though, she had recovered, and although Blair urged her to go to her room, she insisted on ordering the belated dinner served and taking her place at the head of the table. Crawford, recalled meanwhile to the telephone, had been able to add but little to his original statement. He had been hailed as he was pass- ing along the street, he said, and stop- ping, was surprised to find himself accosted by Norman and Miss Blair. They were in a flivver belonging to the Todd estate, and seemed to be ina great hurry. | They told him they were on their way to get married, and asked him to inform Gladys’s father. Then they had driven away, whither he could not say, but he had a suspicion that they were heading toward Mexico. “Well,” said J. P. thoughtfully, “Norman and Gladys were boy and girl sweethearts of ‘course, but-I sup- posed that was all over long ago. What gravels me, though, is why Gladys didn’t tell me about it. Sort of crazy idea, it seems, scooting off this way. COPMIGL OO KS (Ee)