Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

466 curious dignity about her—a compelling sympathy that none of them had seen before. ‘Don’t cry, Burty boy, you are not all to blame. I know how this snake coiled about your throat and strangled you. You were weak, that was all. Fifteen years since I had my hand on your head,” she mused, a catch in her voice. ‘“‘ Maida, as God is my witness, I didn’t even think I loved her,’ the man sobbed. “TI tried to get away from her, but she kept phoning me and pestering the life out of me, and that night she had somebody phone me she was dying and calling for me, so I went over. She was in bed, acting awful sick till you—”’ ‘“* Ah!’ Maida cried. There was a wild note of exultation in her voice. “ And she had the same somebody phone me that you were in love with her, and I’d find you in her room!” Everybody crowded around to hear. ‘‘ And when she heard you knock on her door she jumped out of bed like a shot,” Burt went on, “ shoved me into the closet, and stood against it. You came in and— well, you wouldn’t even listen to me—you just—went—”’ ‘* To the devil!” the woman finished bit- terly, the fire dying out of her face and voice. “I wasn’t a bell-cow; but I was a miserable weakling. You can take comfort in that Belle Benton. I can see your whole nasty scheme now. This is probably just such another dirty game. Well you won in my case; but listen to me: | “Through all these fifteen years that I’ve been playing the kerosene circuit, tramping, grip in hand, through the snow to find cheap lodging-houses, drinking, doping to forget—~ all through these years I’ve never closed my eyes without cursing you. Even the dope couldn’t.shut it out of my mind. You may want to hear it. It’s a sweet thought to hold over a woman every day for all the years of her life.” A crazy look came into the drug-filmed eyes of the actress. “ ‘ Come, great demon of the unblessed! Lay the shadow of your hand on Belle Benton. Make a woman of her instead of a snake, that she may feel ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. me. Set the vultures on her heart every day and renew it every night, until she shall be worn out with the torture. Then curse her body. May life bring her only despair, and death find her a festering sore, loathed by herself and all mankind. Then, dear devil, let me be there!’ Her time has come. I feel it. This is the first step. Let me be there at the last, to heave her festering body into a hole for the worms!” | Horror was written on every face as Maida Ayers closed her curse and walked out of the room without another word. ” Belle Benton was white and shaking. Harold Weatherby had fallen away from her. She steadied herself by the bed. She tried to laugh. Everybody drew slightly away, as if the hideous curse had already begun its work on her body. Burt was a blubbering bundle of grief. Esther had lifted her head and stood as if stricken. Ma Frank still held one fat arm around the girl, the other she lifted toward the door. ‘““Go!” she gasped. For once words seemed to fail her. “Oh, T’ll go all right!” Belle burst into a loud, harsh laugh. “If anybody thinks I’m afraid of the ravings of a crazy dope- fiend they’ve got another think coming. Ob, Ill go, old lady. But Ill publish your name all over this country for upholding such characters. Decent women will be afraid to come here when I get through with you.” “‘ Go!” shrieked Ma. ‘* And’as for you ”—she looked at Esther —‘ well, you can have him when I get through with him, which will be as soon as I’ve dragged your name through the di- vorce courts. Ta, tal. Watch out for some free advertising, girly!” she called back. Ma motioned the people out, and Harold Weatherby took Burt’s arm. “‘ Come,,old man, to my room.” “It’s all right, deary,” Ma Frank soothed when the girl fell across the bed, shaken by dry sobs. “ Ma Frank is your friend. That woman is a she-devil, and we’re all on your side. I wouldn’t believe nothin’ wrong of you, sweety, if I was to see it with my own eyes.” Honkt Honk! Honk! as I feel. Then smite her as she has smitten gy. “ There’s a automobile in front of the- - a a _. «seid ElOOOkKS Co Co mM