The Argosy, October 1906 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

416 What, indeed, could he do? She had him caught “ dead to rights,” .as the say- ing gees; she had asked him the point- . blank question what he was doing there. What other answer was there to make her save the truth? : Scientists aver that —the- process oF thought has a swiftness even exceeding that of light; but-even so, Horace must have broken: all previous records in that brief instant- of time which» succeeded Miss Clarkson's startled question. As with a flash his mind took in all “the considerations which have’ been here laboriously set forth,.and a dozen others in addition; had weighed and ~rejected twenty different excuses which he might offer ; and, all at the.same time, had been busily debating wieether “Miss Clarkson looked lovelier in wet-weather rig, or as he had seen. her on the train. ~ | - Oh, if she had only caught him at some other business!..He would not have cared’ if it had been. the most. execrated comcern in the world, .if it had only borne some high-sounding* name like that of a copdsiattin or. syndicate. Syndicate! What a term that Was to ~ conjure with. Even a syndicate of pea-- “snut-stands would bé- respectable. “Ha! That was not a bad idea—a syndicate of peanut-stands covering the entire city. And, by George, it ~was feasible, too. He-would Jook .into the matter this very afternoon... And then, as by an inspiration, he saw the way to answer her question. Scarcely an appreciable. time had passed since the. words had left her. lips, and in that moment he- had *squnded the lowest depths of mortification, shame, confusion ; yet now his voice was never more steady, his-smile sneyer. more uncon- cerned. “Oh, Miss. Clarkson, how ae you < ~do?’’ he cried, doffing his dripping hat. ~ ““What am IL at,-you ask? Oh, I am thinking of getting up a big syndicate. of all the peanut-stands in New York, you know ; and just now I am familiarizing myself with some of the practical de- tails. Rather a nasty day to try it; but I thought I would: stick it out.” The surprise died out of her eyes, and in its place came a gleam of admiratign. “ You-big financiers are gobbling up~ everything,” she said; “and I suppose THE ARGOSY. - 7 _ you have to know every part of your various businesses from the ground up. I should think your. heads would burst with the diversified lot of knowledge packed away in them. Mother,” to the lady with her, “ let me introduce Mr. Clarkson. “The gentleman who was so kind to [email protected] the train. Mother has a pet squirrel to which she is devoted,” she added by way of explanation, “and we wete on the lookout for nuts for him. YF suppose, however, there, is no oppor- tunity to buy any here? ”’ ‘“Oh, but indeed there is,” Clarkson with .an airy laugh. retorted ‘ST am open for business quite in the regular. way. How many shall I. give you?” tentatively filling up the measure, . “Ten cents’ worth will be. quite suffi- cient, thank © you.” She laughed: joyous- ly as he: handed “her over the -bag. “Really, -1 think: you have: very little to fearn, Mr. Clarkson.. You are already 4 -quite. professional in your~manner. “And, by the way,” she. went on, “don’t forget. your promise to call on us.. I have received some wery Startling. sinformation, and T want yan advice. in regard: to it.” é shall be onde too delighted to aid you,” returned Horace. “ Butswhat is thé:character of this information? Some- thing in regard to your brother? ” “Oh, I can’t tell-it to you here; but please don’t delay long in“coming ‘up, to see us, for from what, I have heard” she lowered her. voice—‘‘ I believe that Sylyester Guse i8 in New Yorkeqgight now?” “ No?” ejaculated Horace, every: “whit as astounded as he appeared, 5 “Yes,” she nodded; ‘“ It have every reason to believe that‘ he is ingthe city, and that with.a little effort we can easily find him.’ “ Well, do-nothing until I have had a chance. to talk it over with-you,” urged Clarkson hurriedly. We must be-wary in dealing with thé fellow—very Wary. .@And I will certainly be .up, ‘either to- night or to-morrow.” She duly accorded the promise, and it was therefofe with a considerably re- lieved heart that he lifted his. hat-to her and her mother “in good-by. , <=) turning — “lf you.were to act on your own accord you might—er—* “Make a bad -mistake. (ee) . per comicboo o 7 . # me :