Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

468 Her fire died, her eyes sought the open road. There came the voice of Evers: “ Philip must be expounding some of his bad philosophy to you, Miss Bowles,” he called above the rush of wind and noise of the machine. ‘“ He’s making you miss this glorious scenery, I’m afraid.” “I’m trying to make love to her, Mr. Evers!”’ Philip cried. ‘“ But her coldness, together with your constant interruptions, make it next to impossible.” ‘“‘T beg pardon,” laughed Paul. “Philip, I didn’t intend to tell you,” Esther said after a pause, “ but you know what happened last night?” cc Yes.”’ ; ‘Worse happened to-day.”’ She paused, then finished bluntly. ‘“ Burt’s wife came up to my room unexpectedly. Burt was on my fire-escape. She found him!”’ “Good God!” A sudden sharp pang shot through Philip Grenville’s heart. So, after all, she had not been guiltless! He knew about the things that Burt had given her; but he had somehow believed this woman could go unscorched through the fire. He wondered that he should care. Perhaps because it was not his habit to put faith in women. His mother and Esther— that was it. He did not like to find his judgment at fault. Or perhaps here was the result of his teachings. He did not like that thought, either. “I was wrong to rob you of your God.” The girl turned and looked at him with blank eyes. What had the taking away of God to do with Belle’s finding Burt on the fire-escape? Slowly his meaning became clear. “TI see—what you—think—’’ Shame and anger struggled together in her. Cold reason followed, and her eyes fell. “ But why shouldn’t you think it?” “ T was wrong?” The‘man half stated, half questioned. He searched her face eagerly. “‘ Of course.” He sighed out his relief. Suspicion came with the next breath. “You wouldn’t lie to me, Esther?”’ “Why should I?” A blaze of fury leaped out against her will. ‘“ You set me ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. up to it. You said: Pay, if I had to; one way or another I’ve nothing to lose.” Her face was white with the effort she made at self-control. ‘ Have I?” ‘“ No, nothing.” 2 " “I was desperate. Insane. Perhaps if Burt had been more—well, he isn’t my kind _ ofaman. I didn’t seem to care about being good any more, but—well—”’ ““T see—I see—” Philip hastened with intense relief. ‘Why did the fool get on the fire-escape?”’ | ‘“‘T don’t know; I wonder if there és a God, and if He made Burt do that to jerk me back?” She seemed to ponder that as something new. Philip did not voice his thought that, if so, God seemed to use rough measures. ‘“ Mothers have to punish their children,” she said, as if in answer to his query. “Severely, too—but, no, I had already made up my mind to quit the ‘ skin game’ and earn my way. No, it wasn’t to jerk me back, for I had my face set right al- ready. It was just my fate.” “Do you want to tell me all about it?” the man asked. When she had told the whole story he said: “Well, you can’t go back to Ma Frank’s, that’s certain.” | ‘“‘ No, it doesn’t seem as if I could,” she agreed. ‘‘I couldn’t face that bunch; but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve paid my board for four weeks there, and I have only about four dollars left. If I could get a job.” “You can.” ‘Who with?” “Paul. He is crazy over you. You are exactly the type he has been looking for for years.”’ ‘“T couldn’t do it, Philip.” ‘You can make him pay you anything you want,” Philip rushed on. ‘ He is the fashion. He will make you the fashion. He’s not mean with money. It goes as easy as it comes. I’ll be your manager—fix your salary, and such like. I sha’n’t be afraid to stick the price up, as you would,” he smiled. “Philip, I can’t do it—I can’t.” She clasped and unclasped her hands. __. _ - a ng COmicbsookxs.com