The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 2 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

GETTING AWAY FROM THOMPSON. Yet, once under the canvas, slumber did not overwhelm Jane Fayre at once. Advis- ing her not to think was well enough, but there seemed to be food for much unpleas- ant thought just now. With all its stops and starts and rushings back and forth, her quite remarkable tour had reached a crisis. There was always the chance, of course, that Mr. Hapworthy would return, baffled in his search for a ve- hicle; there was the chance, too, that his lady might eventually decide to rest and might awaken in happier frame of mind. But putting these possibilities aside, what if Mrs. Hapworthy did leave? The social codes of this great country sanction much freedom of action, but she could hardly con- tinue unchaperoned to wander the woods with Wilbur Farnham. And if she did not go on with him, what then? He might come to Batesford and find a Thompson, who was large and an- swered the fiendish Thompson’s general de- scription and was still not her Thompson at all! He might serve him and return to New York, conscious of a task well exe- cuted; and when in court it appeared that the right man had not been served her chance of legal freedom before Wednesday would be definitely shattered. Nor did even the money matter so very much. As the wife of a burglar she could not marry Wilbur Farnham; what if he de- cided, after all, to go to Europe and stand in the way of bursting shells and have him- self thoroughly killed and here the gloomy train of thought detached itself gently from Jane’s weary brain. But its major conclusion clung fast to the brain. Jane, stirring and protesting after a long, long time, understood mistily that she must go on! Thrice she shook off the unwelcome hand before Mrs. Hapworthy’s voice penetrated the fogs of slumberland with a crisp: “Come, Miss Fayre! Come!” Jane merely murmured incoherently. “Come!” the lady repeated. ‘James managed to hire a buggy, thank fortune! He is waiting now and we can get to the railroad at Bramville in time for the six o’clock train, the man said. Come!” “T’m not—not going with you!” Jane said. “Vou will remain with—o/!” said Mrs. Hapworthy. It was an “oh!”’ of hideous significance, too. So much Jane appreciated and strove 253 fér words that would explain everything, while explaining nothing, and convince Mrs. Hapworthy of the need of her own pres- ence. “Well! Very well, Miss Fayre!” con- cluded the lady, before Jane had even at- tained a starting point, and with a swish she had removed her scandalized presence from the tent. “Tf you will—will just wait a minute,” Jane began. ‘““Come, James,” called across the clearing. going alone!”’ Mrs. Hapworthy’s voice “You and I are When the buggy had crunched away, the plain horror of the thing overcame Mr. Farnham, descending upon him with a rush that sent him to the edge of the road, where he scowled at the swaying light and swore energetically under his breath. The light jogged on steadily, away and away, and eventually Mr. Farnham picked up the lantern and strode to the tent, for Jane must be quite mad. He would gain her permission first, which would take perhaps two seconds, and within the next he would tear after the Hapworthys and their infernal buggy and drag it back until Jane could make ready to accompany them. The end of the tent was open. Mr. Farn- ham thrust in his lantern and prepared to deliver one of the shortest and most con- vincing little speeches of his life—and he failed to utter a single word. Exhaustion, utter and complete, had claimed Jane Fayre once more! Tight rolled in her blanket, disordered of hair, more lovely than ever, Jane slept the sleep of the just, oblivious alike to conven- tion and hunger and Thompsons and every- thing else in the world. Mr. Farnham, having considered her for two long minutes, withdrew his lantern and extinguished it, thereafter to stroll to the car and stretch himself on the wide back seat. Henceforth apparently, he alone was in full charge of Jane and her adventure! He thrilled and assured himself that, tired or otherwise, he would close never an eye in sleep while she was there to be protected. He sighed and wondered just how their joint wandering might be explained to a possibly inquisitive public. There were half a dozen ways of ac- complishing that, however. COMMICLOOOKS The sleepless - (C@)