The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

744 Miss Thorpe had picked up and laid on the table beside the bed. Bullen took it with a look that said he approved of the little lady’s quick understanding of his wishes. “Ts your name Le Fevre? ” he wrote slowly. Natalie nodded and watched continue his writing. “Frenchy Fill-up!”’ she read aloud, her young voice throbbing either with excitement or anger. Bullen gesticulated weirdly with his pen from the name to her. “You mean, perhaps, my uncle— Phillipe le Fevre?’’ she exclaimed. him Bullen grinned uncertainly. But if - he imagined that the little girl would appreciate his showing some acquaint- ance with her family, he was mistaken. ‘A more indignant, bright-eyed, flame- cheeked young woman never fixed haughty attention on any one. “You are one of those men who per- secuted my Oncle Phillipe!” she ac- cused. Sounds so hideous that they startled the haughtiness quite away and turned the little lady to a terrified child, run- ning to Miss Thorpe for safety, came from Bullen’s speechless mouth. He was laughing. The Westerner’s sense of humor was intact, though illness and his pecul- iar affliction turned its expression into ~ something at once grotesque and piti- ful. Natalie gradually interpreted the noises. “ Yes, I know!” she flamed, coming into her bravery and anger again. “You drive my Oncle Phillipe from hees home—hees fine home! He tole me how you are vandals and peegs! Peegs, he say! Some day when I am reech I go out there to Pifion, Arizona, and punish all. cowboy and _ other Deast=! > Miss Thorpe tried vainly to stop the laughter that greeted this indignant tirade. Bullen shook with it. “You call heem Frenchy Fill-up! I know about that! I shall some day make each cowboy apologize—to me, THE ARGOSY. the niece of Phillipe le Fevre!” Na- talie cried. Bullen wrote again. Natalie almost snatched the book from him. > “ Ain’t you rich now? This is some house,’ was Bullen’s remark. “Fet ees not my home! hees! ”’ Natalie had brought the paper in which the report of the wedding and the pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Barring- ton, as well as Radford’s, were all pre- sented. She pointed her small finger at Radford. It amazed her when the invalid with unexpected strength pulled the sheet out of her hands. Her inquiries about Pinon, Arizona, Eet ees elicited nothing further from the West- - erner. He was intent upon the perusal of the account of the wedding which had taken place in the house where he was lying. : Miss Thorpe saw with considerable satisfaction that he had evidently de- termined to be still and rest himself. She saw him studying the pictures of the wonderful house and grounds at Cressymere, where the distinguished honeymooners had gone, with a con- centration which proved him wholly absorbed. Natalie finally left, discouraged at not learning more of her uncle’s estate in Arizona. Radford had a singular experience the next day after the wedding. He went into Bullen’s room to inquire about his progress, and stopped with a genial greeting at the foot of the bed. But the moment Bullen heard his name spoken by the man who had meant merely to extend a common courtesy, he became so excited and uttered the uncanny noises which took the place of speech so loudly that Miss Thorpe drove Radford out of the sick- room. Ted was embarrassed by the occur- rence. He resented the treatment. He liked to be liked, and had not con- sciously done anything to Bullen to de- serve the malignant outburst. When Miss Thorpe came into the (eO) VOOKS AMUG (C@)