Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

618 ‘So that’s it! Because his finger-nails aren’t manicured? Becayse he can’t take a quip, or make one? Because he has no parlor tricks?” He stood up straight, and caught both her hands firmly at the wrists. ‘“‘ Pull yourself together,” he said, and though his voice was low it had that quality of metal in it which Mrs. Garth had noted. He changed it subtly to a note of appeal and horror: ‘ For God’s sake, Margaret, remember what you are, and what he is!”’ She was fully as straight as Tyson, and her glance clashed on his without flinching. “And what am I? Part of the flotsam of the world; part of the worthless driftwood. And he—” ‘“‘ Is a superior bricklayer; a very compe- tent ditch-digger.”’ It was odd to see how nearly alike they became in their anger. His nostrils quiv- ered, and, her jaw set in a line almost as stern as that of her brother. “Hal, I warn you not to talk like this. It’s both foolish and useless.”’ ‘“T had rather be foolish than shamed.” ‘“* Ashamed of Edward Garth? Ten days. ago your voice shook with pride when you merely mentioned what he was and what he had done. I tell you, I’ve never had the echo of what you said out of my ears.” ‘“*I did. God knows I was a fool; but it’s not too late to undo the foolishness.”’ She started to speak, but he rushed on in the emphatic whisper of the desperate: “Think, think, thik! Margaret; he’s all big hands and burly arms and scientific mind.” “With the soul of a poet!” , Tyson released her, and groaned. “ He—poet; dear God, this is my own work coming back on me like a boomerang. That heavy-footed dullard the soul of a poet? Margaret, I’ll tell you what he has done—this honorable man, who—”’ “You don’t need to tell me why he brought you out here. He told me about that.” ‘And you approve of it?” She flushed, but her anger kept her keyed. “It was a trick at “your expense, but— he loved me, and that would justify a great ARGOSY- ALLSTORY WEEKLY. \ deal. Oh, Hal, be was desperate; he told me everything to-day. ” } He was shaking with passion, but he be- “ gan to smile. ‘“Very well,” he said. “If that’s your view-point, the only way to make you see the truth is to remove the thing that lies in the way.” He started back toward the door, but she intercepted him. “What do you mean?” she panted. ‘“‘ Hal, remember yourself. You look like a demon. I know what’s in your mind.” “ Please take your hand away. I’m go- Ing to smash him, my dear, as any man would smash an unclean creeping thing that crawled into the heart of his family. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to destroy this hulk, this double- dealing, crooked, brazen-faced cur.” She stood away from him at that, saying coldly: “‘ You’ve spoken quite enough.” ‘““ Not yet,” he went on in the same dead- ly manner. “I came out here and learned to look up to this fellow as the soul of honor—a diamond in the rough. I’ve gone through hell trying to conform to his stan- dards and learn his ways of living. And now I find that I’ve been using a thieving trickster as my model. I don’t know yet what leverage I'll find, but I’m going to ruin this strong man, this giant.” She tore open the door. ‘““Then go down and tell him that to his face!” He bowed to her formally. “T hope you will always retain the in- stincts of a lady, Margaret.” And he disappeared into the hall. CHAPTER XXXIV. SPOILS OF VICTORY. T the entrance to the living-room he stood quietly, and found Mrs. Garth sitting sewing, while Garth, with a downward head, paced up and down the room anxiously. comer, he wheeled toward the door and started forward. ‘My mother has been telling me of an unfortunate conversation she’s had with Original from o At the sight of the new-.