The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

HIS MAD MOVE ON THE MOVIES. She was shameless and—Darton tried to shake off the hand. The hand refused to be shaken off. It happened to be the left hand and very tightly encased in a white kid glove. Now, there was nothing remarkable about this, of course; even though it belonged to an- other, it was the sweetest, roundest little hand in the world, and Jimmy Darton hes- itated a second or so before shaking at it again. And as he hesitated, his lips parted sud- denly and his eyes ducked down nearer the hand. On that third finger was the dia- mond that marked their agreement—and it was the only ring! “‘Where’s your—where’s your ring?” James Darton cried. “What, dear?” Sybil said, rather with difficulty, for the tears were overflowing. “Your ring! Your ring! Your wedding ring!”’ cried Jimmy Darton. This time Sibyl’s emotion overcame her, for she knew her James to be insane! She slipped her arms about his neck and held. him tight, as if to quiet him. “Jimmy dearest, I—I have no wedding ring!” she said. “Jimmy, my poor boy! Don’t you remember, dear? We're not married yet!” CHAPTER XIII. ALL ABOARD. : CIS youre not married?” fairly howled the question. “Hush, dear! Oh, hush!” Sibyl said brokenly; and then, remembering Thomas Morely, she whirled upon him. “You are his friend!” she said, with swift anger. ‘“‘You’ve always called your- self that, Mr. Morely! Why have you let him, in this condition, go without medi- cal attendance? Why wasn’t Dr. Kerri- gan called and—”’ “Wait, Sibyl! Wait, dear! He isn’t to blame,” Jimmy. cried jubilantly. “He —here! Look at me! Say it again; you're not married?” “Married to whom?” Darton 151 “Rossmore, of course.” “What Rossmore, Jimmy?” Sibyl asked blankly. “The young one with the tinplate mil- lions.” The blankness in her beautiful eyes gave place to a firmness, a concern that was’ almost maternal. “No, dear. I haven’t seen him for ten years—not since I was a little girl. It doesn’t matter, though, Jimmy dear. Per- haps if Mr. Morely will call a cab, mother will come and let me take care of you for to-night, or until we can get a competent nurse. Can you be depended on for that, Mr. Morely?” she concluded, icily. ‘“Be- cause, if it is—” She said no more. Jimmy Darton’s arms, having ached for the feel of her these many bitter hours, ached no more; they were about Sibyl now and bidding fair to crush her as he rattled off: “He isn’t to blame, Sibyl—he had noth- ing at all to do with it or—say! I’m go- ing to yell! Im going to cheer! I’m go- ing out there and knock every one of that mob who’s been threatening my life, just to let off steam and show them that I’m still among those present. “But Dll save just one good punch for Bostwick and if it doesn’t seem too cow- ardly when I come face to face with the old scoundrel—Sibyl, you don’t know what I’ve been suffering!” . “Jimmy, please!” the girl pleaded breathlessly, “Jimmy, you’re hurting me! What are you saying about Bostwick? Do you mean father’s partner?” “Of course! He said that you’d eloped with Rossmore.” “When?” Darton calmed himself in a measure. “Days ago, dear. That’s what drove me crazy. He said that you had married somebody else and gone to Japan—lI think it was. He wanted me to take a job with the firm, somewhere out in the Philippines, and start for the place that . very night.” “And you believed, Jimmy . . . ?” “Could you believe anything else, when CORMMICGLOOOKS (C@