Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

256 Mr. Morrow. Mr. Morrow, as yet, found himself unable to speak. “This is not the first time the same thing has happened,” the voice con- tinued vibrantly. ‘“‘ Last week, Gerald told me that they were going to the af- fair at the Glenville Club. I discovered later that they were not present.” “Well, where were they? Where are they now?” Henry exploded. “That is a point upon which I am distinctly uneasy,” Burtis replied. “I can’t understand the boy. He has been trained, sir, as I was trained—and that was with a rod of iron! I am ab- solutely positive that Gerald never told me a lie in all his life until—” “Tm not at all interested in your family history!” Henry put in. “ What I want to know is, where has that damned boy taken my little daughter to-night!” * Now, see here, sir! mit—”’ “T don’t care a rap what you'll per- mit! Where are they?” There was another brief pause. “T donot know. Ihave no clews at the moment, although I mean to do some telephoning. You're evidently in a rather excitable frame of mind this evening, Morrow,” the other said coldly. ‘“ Perhaps I should have in- vestigated a little farther on before consulting you. “Suppose I call you up again, if I learn anything and they’re not home by that time?” “Do that!’ Morrow barked. “I tell you—” “ But let us have no misunderstand- ing on one point,” Burtis said, and his voice grew harder. “I assume that you do not approve my son. Well, you're not nearly so anxious as I, sir, to have this affair broken off! Ihave very definite plans for Gerald, and they most certainly do not include any en- tanglement with—” “What was that?” | “Tet us say that they include no girls at all for the next year or two. I [ will not per- é ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. would suggest this, Mr. Morrow: when they do return have Gerald in and tel- ephone me at once. I'll be over within five minutes, and we will have a show- down of a sort which, I hope most earnestly, will end the nonsense for good and all. Will you agree to do that?” Something had happened to Henry. His knees were uncertain ; he was shak- ing all over; a cold trickle came down into one eye. “Yes!” he said huskily. “ And if you learn anything before that, call— call me at once!” . I will,” said Burtis. Brantree and Laura were standing beside him, Henry observed foggily, both of them round-eyed. Laura was crying. ‘What is it, Hal? Has something happened to Margey ?” Henry’s flitting weakness had passed. He was steady again now— astonishingly steady, in fact. ‘Not an accident—no.” “Was that Mr. Burtis?” “Tt was!” “Well, what is it? Tell me! Why were you shouting at him?” Henry’s sudden smile passed de- scription ! ‘T'll do more than shout at him, kid! When I’ve finished with his dirty little whelp [’ll go around and put Bur- tis in the hospital!’”’ he said. ‘“ What?” Brantree cried. Laura’s slightly supercilious tran- quillity was gone. Quite wildly, she looked at her brother and after her husband, who had tramped into the living room again. “'What—what does he mean?” gasped. ‘Your nice little Gerald!’ Henry said violently. ‘‘ The nice boy it was quite all right for Margey to be run- ning around with! He’s been lying tc his father and teaching our kid to lie to us!” “Tf you'll just—just quiet down and tell me?” Laura pleaded. fee COMMIC OOS she (C@)