The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

84 Harry,” said Exmoor presently. “That will give me time to think what should be done in a case as unique as yours.” Harry’s mobile face expressed pain and disappointment. “T like you first rate to work for, Mr. Exmoor!” he declared, ‘“‘and I’m sure, sir, I’ve done the best I could.” “Yes, you’ve done your best,” Exmoor agreed, with a slight smile, “‘and that is a good deal. Now, please go out, and [’ll talk with you again.” Jerry Hampton moved uncertainly toward the door. “Ud rather you didn’t go yet, Hamp- ton,” said Exmoor, “unless you wish to. We shall be alone now, I think.” “Mr. Foxford is living here, I believe,” Jerry returned, a little stiffly. “Not exactly living here,” said Exmoor. “He helped me to get here, and stood ready to help me defend myself from at- tack, but he was not to come back to- night unless I sent for him.” Eugenia, who had been silent for a long time, got up and looked at Jerry wistfully. “T hope you will stay for a while,” she said softly. “There are so many things that ought to be explained to you!” “T haven’t asked for explanations,” Jerry replied. “By chance I have been rather intimately connected with certain affairs, but now it is all over, apparently, and I am not inclined to be inquisitive. I wouldn’t be human, of course, if I didn’t - feel mystified still, but—” “You wonder that I left my home so abruptly,” she interrupted, “and I wouldn’t let you go without explaining that to you.” “T have felt vaguely for a long time,” said Jerry, “that Milton Delroy is not your father. He was devoted to you, in his way, beyond all doubt, but I could never reconcile myself to the belief that you were his daughter. He belongs to a different type of humanity.” Eugenia twisted her handkerchief be- tween her fingers and dropped her eyes. “But Milton Delroy is my father,” she said tremulously. THE ARGOSY. Jerry was abashed. “Why, I’m sorry I spoke so hastily,” he said, uncomfortably. ‘I thought—”’ “The man who is not my father is Irving Exmoor,” she broke in. Jerry turned around, utterly bewildered, and looked from her to Exmoor. “The explanation is simple enough,” said the latter, “if you will transpose two names, Hampton.” “You mean?” cried Jerry. “My name is Milton Delroy, and Eu- genia is my daughter,” said the man who had walked so long in a cloak of mys- tery. a CHAPTER XXVI. THE WHYS AND WHEREFORES. = | WILL tell you a long story, as briefly as I can, Hampton,” said the new Milton Delroy, after he had asked Eu- genia to leave them alone for a while. “And it’s a hard story for me to tell— hardest of all for me to tell it to you.” “Then why tell it?” returned Jerry. “Tt has to be told,” answered the other simply. “It may be difficult for you at first to keep in mind that the man you have known as Delroy is really Irving Ex- moor, but it will become clearer to you. I met him in the West after I left col- lege and we were associated in business. ‘“‘He was older than I, and I fell under his influence from the first, through the strength of his personality. I had certain high ideals, but he opposed them with his theories of ambition and progress, and gradually broke them down. We juggled with real estate and mining property in the Middle West, and when I awoke to the realization that we were little better than shysters and swindlers, I was too deep in the mire to get out. “Exmoor’s ambition was limitless, and he began to cover the country with his operations. He stopped at nothing to get money and property. Forgery, blackmail ~——even violence—were nothing more than business methods to him. He took men’s 0)(0\) COMMUC S (CO)