Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

TRACING THE SHADOW. are—or, aS you were—” But Wise.couldn’t stand.for what seemed likely to be a long story. ‘“ Excuse me, Mrs. Vail,” he interrupted her; ‘“‘ but, really, I must run away now, and I want a word or two with Mr. Rivers first.” The good lady subsided, but it was plain to be seen she was disappointed. ‘May I come in?” and a smiling Olive appeared in the doorway. “Am I wanted?” ‘Are you wanted?” The eager, hungry smile Rivers gave her was pathetic. For it was sO spontaneous, so gladly welcoming that it was as if a light was suddenly ex- ‘tinguished when the man, on_ second thoughts, hid his real feelings and. advanced with a courteous but rather formal air. - “You're always wanted,” he resumed lightly, but the joy was gone from his tones, and a mere friendly greeting resulted. Surely he was a gentleman, but he would make no advances while uncertain of his claim in full to that title. And then he looked at her curiously, as if wondering whether she would hold any place in his restored memory, should the restoration really occur. It was Zizi who broke the silence that fell on us all. ‘““T want my way, Penny,” she said, in such a wistful, pleading tone that I felt sure no breathing human heart could refuse her. ‘What is your way, Zizi?’’ Wise said gently. “IT want us all to go—all of us—over to Mr. Gately’s office—”’ ‘““ Come ahead!” cried Rivers. ‘‘ I prom- ised old Brice here that I’d go this very day, and I broke my appointment. Sorry, old man, but I had to see friend doctor on the jump. Let’s go now, in accordance with the witch’s whim, and we’ll take the big wagon and all go.” He often called Zizi the witch or the elf- child, and she liked it from him, though she usually resented any familiarity. _ She smiled at him, but I noted an un- dercurrent of sadness in her gaze, and I knew she was thinking of the evidence of the snow crystal. For though Zizi liked Rivers a lot, and 10 Arcosy 145 though she really had faith in his innocence of wrong-doing, yet her whole fealty was to Pennington Wise, and her hunch about the snowflake drawing might lead to disastrous results in more ways than one. Olive shrank from going to her guar- dian’s office—she had never been there since the tragedy; but a few whispered words from Zizi persuaded her to agree to accompany us. And to help matters, I told her that if she preferred not to go into Mr. Gately’s rooms, she could remain in my office with Norah while we went. Mrs. Vail insisted on being of the party, and ran briskly off to get her bonnet. The atmosphere seemed _ peculiarly charged with a feeling of impending dis- aster, and yet not one of us would have held back. Pennington Wise was very grave and quiet; Zizi, on the other hand, was as one electrified. She sprang about with quick, darting motions, she giggled al- most hysterically, and then suddenly be- came most gentle and tender. She ran for Olive’s wraps herself, and bringing them, put them on with the careful air of a mother dressing her child. Olive herself was as one dazed. She now and then looked toward Rivers, with a shy yet wistful glance, and he looked back with a big, hearty smile that seemed to warm her very soul. We piled into the big touring-car, and made a quick run to the Puritan Building. Then we all went to my office first. Norah did the honors as prettily as any hostess in her own home, and her ready tact helped Olive to overcome her dread of the place. ‘““ Well,” said Rivers at last, “‘ what are we waiting for? I thought we were to go over to Mr. Gately’s rooms. Perhaps Miss Raynor and Mrs. Vail would prefer to stay here with Miss MacCormack.”’ “No,” said Olive firmly. “I want to 90, 106.2 Norah looked at her uncertainly. Then, probably realizing that for Olive to remain behind would be harder than to face what- ever might happen, she said quite casually: “Very well, then, Miss Raynor; let us all go.” nn EO LOOO SS (CO)