The Argosy, Vol. 82, No. 3 — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

MOVIE MEN eyes. He reached out his right arm and a hand stole into his. Slowly he opened his eyes. He was holding Burton’s hand, or to be more exact, Burton was holding his. Marion had left the room. “T’ll be hanged,” Grayson laughed, ‘‘the match-maker and the match-breaker. Tommy, tell me what’s happened?”’ The look of concern had left Burton’s face. Now that his friend had regained consciousness and appeared to be normal, his anxiety was over. “Things certainly have happened, Bob,” he replied. “She knows you’re not a movie star, old fellow, but she said that no movie hero could have done what you did.” Grayson smiled. “You told her all, then?”’ Burton nodded. ‘Under the circumstances I had to. When two machines filled with local police entered the grounds Trent saw the game was up. He flashed a gun, but the sheriff potted him in the arm before he had a chance to use it.” “Every one was arrested then?” “Every one,’ answered Burton. “The gang was rounded up. Of course, we did not know what it was all about, but when I saw Trent’s gun flash I knew something was wrong.” “T heard a shot,” Grayson told him. “It was just after 1 was hit on the head by something.” “By one of Trent’s thugs,” explained Burton. “We got him, too. He was hiding under a table in the library when the sheriff and his men found him. Two other ruffians were lying on the floor.” Grayson smiled. Memories of a recent fight in which he had come out the victor returned to his mind. “And Trent?” asked Grayson. about him?”’ “He made a confession, a long statement in which he seemed to take much pride. Said he had been a moving-picture director; admitted that he had been crooked and be- came discredited. Lost his position and could not get another. Went to the Coast, where he figured in a series of dangerous escapades, and finally came East. Got in with a gambling crowd, you saw some of them to-day, and conceived the idea of the motion picture gag because, as he said, ‘he knew the game.’ ” Grayson whistled. ‘‘Pretty slick at that,” “What FOR A _ DAY, 539 he muttered. ‘“ But how did he happen to come here?”’ “Said he had read of Silas Mawbrey go- ing to Washington. He knew Mawbrey was a widower, had also heard of his eccen- tric disposition, and figured that his daugh- ter would not be entertaining friends. The neighborhood, too, appealed to him because of the isolation of the place.” “How did you work around our own affair?’ Grayson now inquired. ‘Made a clean breast of it,” Burton an- swered. ‘It was devilish embarrassing.” ‘And what did she say?” Grayson de- manded eagerly. “Hardly anything. At first she was dread- fully surprised. Of course, I put it down as a lark. Told her I had heard of her from Alice Harrison, and all that, you know.” “But was she disappointed or angry over our false misrepresentation?”’ “Apparently neither. If you ask me, she was tickled to death to learn that you did so much in order to meet her.”’ “T love her, Tommy,” Grayson sighed. Just then a knock sounded on the door, and Marion entered. At sight of Grayson sitting up in a chair, smoking his pipe, she stopped. ‘Dr. Winthrop said—” she began. But Grayson only laughed. “Oh, come now,” he said, “why have me lie in bed when I feel so well?” “But you know doctor’s orders—” The look of anxiety on her face thrilled Bob. In that moment he felt he could have whipped Trent’s gang all over again. “YT can see you’re very wilful,” she said. “You usually have your own way, don’t your” “Usually,” replied Grayson in a low tone. He was watching her, and under those steady eyes of his she blushed, and he knew he had won. “Miss Mawbrey,” he began, “I have sev- eral apologies to make to you.” Marion was gazing at the floor, and Bur- ton caught Grayson’s eye. “Bob, I’m going down to see to the car,”’ he said; “light the lights and all that, you know.” But it is doubtful if the other two heard him. They had other things to think about. And for some time they sat talking, and what they said was for their own ears alone, but we have an -idea it was about movie men for a day, with side references to wedding bells and love for a lifetime. Gomichook (E@)