The Argosy, August 1905 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

concerned your very life? ”. He spoke with an earnestness that for the moment carried conviction. Whether or not his warning was justi- fied, May felt that he had indeed im- periled his liberty by remaining to deliver it. And a quick revulsion of feeling seized her as she looked up into his troubled, eager eyes. “Mr. Mohun—Ralph,” she _ ex- claimed, laying her hand impulsively on the coarse sleeve of his hkwmbaz, “forgive me if I judged you too harshly. I was wrong to condemn you without a hearing. Tell me the truth about your- self. Perhaps I can help you.” A spasm as of pain twisted his brown, dyed face and a light sprang into his haggard eyes as he listened. He opened his. lips to speak, then checked himself as if by a tremendous effort. The perspiration stood out on his forehead. A terrible struggle seemed waging within him. But when he spoke again his tone was dull and hopeless, and his eyes were averted from the pleading, beautiful face upraised to his. “T can tell you nothing,” he said. “But you don’t understand!” she insisted. “Il am ashamed of myself that I ever doubted you even for a moment. If you had stood your ground last night, none of us would have believed that wretched Yankee detective. Oh, why did you run away? It was so—so unlike you.” “J —T can tell you nothing,” he re- peated dully. “You must!” she cried, stamping her foot with pretty insistence. ‘“ Can’t you see [’ll believe whatever you say— that Vll know youre speaking the truth—that I trust you? All you have to say is ‘ | am innocent,’ and = I cannot say it.” The words were spoken so low that she scarcely caught their import. But the droop of the man’s head, the utter misery and despair of his countenance went straight to May’s tender heart. She could not—would not—believe him the guilty wretch that his face, his bearing, his words implied. She made one final effort to break down his re- “Ralph Mohun,” she said more quietly, “I know little of the world as men see it—little of the temptations and pitfalls that beset a man. So it is not for me to judge you. But this I do know: if you have been led into any folly or lawless act—I will not believe you capable of crime—the only honest and manly course open to you is to go back and bravely face the consequences of that act; not to hide from its results. Do that, and whatever your punishment 1 for one will be proud to call you my “friend and to help you by every means in my power.” She checked herself, for as she had spoken his face had gone ghastly white under its coat of tan. With inarticulate murmur, his parched throat sought to form words of reply. * You are suffering!” she went on with a thrill of quick sympathy in her hurried words. “It would make it easier for you to tell me everything. I might help yer. The mouse set the lion free from the net, you know, an : 22 The man had regained control of him- self. His face was calm, his voice ex- pressionless as he broke in: ““T need not tell you, Miss Farrar, that it would be sweet beyond words to me if I might confide in you—if, in other words, I might be cur enough to roll my own load of responsibilities upon your shoulders. : “But there are reasons which I cannot explain that forbid my taking advantage of such a chance, even could I bring myself to do so. -I repeat I can tetl you nothing, and unfortunately I eannot even act on your advice to give myself up. You will of course attribute this latter determination on my part to cow- ardice.” The cold, studied brutality of his tone - struck the girl ike a blow in the faee, dampenmg her ardor, chilling her zeal in his behalf. “Then,” she said slowly, “am I to believe ted “You are to believe what you will,” he replied, the same forced coldness and brutality in his voice. “I can neither confirm nor deny your belief. I have delivered the warning; now I will in- — ‘ > - 4 4 ‘a> 2 “@ - * . 4% é . : ” comicbooks.com ‘ ¥ : eS ge ee ee