The Argosy, October 1906 — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

vi hig a he <) yy it CORA Ha a NOY = \ situation. Toned the ee s tie and collar, ‘opened his shirt, and gave his windpipe full play. his eyeballs rolled down and the lids closed over them. — “ And you call that apenas ” Clay asked the niece in wonder. “It’s more like epilepsy.” 3 -“Sh!’’ she said. ‘““ He’s had these fits for years. He had them when he was a boy, I understand. They NXE grown on him of late.” “That scoundrel should not have wor- ried him, then.” | “Cousin George Borrow has his rea- sons for worrying him, perhaps,” she re- turned bitterly. ‘“Now you know why I am so anxious to have you take charge of Uncle Dan. Somebody must watch him and defend him from Borrow—and others.” ‘But doesn’t he know his own dan-- ger?” demanded Clay, looking down at’ the now quietly sleeping patient. . He has no memory of these par- oxysms when he recovers,” the sculptor replied quietly. “‘ And it only makes him angry to hint vat them. Some time he'll go off in one.’ Clay shuddered. “* aad you mean to say that Borrow knows it?” “T do. And others of the family who are always disturbing the old man, too. Oh, I told you that you would be mixed up in a nice family scandal!” “TY don’t want to be!” groaned Clay. “This is no job for a man outside the _ family.” “That’s exactly oy it zs your job,” she declared. “You are an_ outsider. You have no reason for wanting him to die— “My God!” gasped the young ‘man, falling back. ‘““T mean what I say,” bitterly. “It is for your benefit to keep him alive. The longer he lives—if you suit him—the longer you'll keep your Defend him from excitement. Defend him from his own family.” = This—this is awful, Miss Kendrick- son.” - “Oh, the Borrows aren’t— the only family that are waiting for dead men’s shoes. That wretch who was just kick- ing my door would shut Uncle Dan up in the insane asylum if he dared. He is she setanidd “TE ARGOS, = SS 5. helpless you see, when he is this way. It always ends in a short sleep. “There! He seemed easier at once;_ he is waking.” Her voice dropped to a thrilling whis per. Her face S pressed real <i e as she added: “Do you see how much he needs some- body disinterested? You will stay with | him, won't you, Mr. Hopworthy?” “Ty try it,” groaned Clay. Old Mr. Borrow sat up suddenly, blinking his eyes; then he stared at the two looking at him. _ “ Why—why!” he gasped. fall asleep?” “It looks like it, Uncle Dan, ” Miss Kendrickson said carelessly. 5 Do you “Did I feel rested? ” ““Do you know—I don’t remember Oh! is that. you, young man?” he finished, eying Clay with better under- standing. “Well, what do you save Will you accept my terms?” Not a.word about George Borrow ;- : nor a remembrance of the shock, or fit, or whatever it had been. Clay recovered his own COMPOSUTE, a accept, sir,” he said. “Good! Ah! my tie and collar. What’s this? ” “IT loosened them for you, sir,’ Clay respectfully. “I thought would—er—nap better.” _ “Ves, yes! Thanks!” Clay rebuttoned the collar and tied the silk string deftly. The old gentleman seemed to approve. ‘““Ve-ry good,” he said, rising when Clay had finished. ‘“ Now Niece Sadie, are you going to dinner with me?” “Tt am ready, Uncle Dan.” Mr. Borrow. passed Clay a card. “ Call at that address as early as eight to-morrow morning,’ he said. “ Good night!’ and so let his new employee go. Clay was not SOITY to get away by him- self. He wanted time to think the matter over and get his mind adjusted to the strange situation. Besides, he wished to go out ahead of the old centleman and his niece to see if the younger Borrow was about. That individual, he made up his mind, was an out-and-out villain; and there was some satisfaction in thwarting him in _his at- tenipt& upon his uncle’s peace ‘of mind, considering C oa eT grievance ’ said you ‘com ic bo ok , SS ~ & > ~ ~~