Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

AAlfh 302 been making a business of shooting fast and straight. ‘““ Among others there was the silent man who’d watched and waited for so long. But this silent man hove alongside while our rich friend was bound home in a buckboard. “ “Good evening!’ he called. “The rich chap turned and heard; it all seemed all right, but he’d done a good deal of shady business in his day, and that made him suspicious of the silent man now. So he reached for his gun and got it out just in time to be shot cleanly through the hand. “The silent man tied up that hand and sympathized with the rich chap; then he took that satchel and divided the paper money into two bundles. One was twice the size of the other, and the silent man took the smaller one. There was only twelve thousand dollars in it. Also, he took the ruby brooch for a friend—and as a sort of keepsake, you-know. And he delivered a short lecture to the rich man on the subject of carelessness and rode away. The rich man picked up his gun with his left hand and opened fire, but he’d never learned to shoot very well with that hand, so the silent man came through safe.” ‘“ That’s a bully story,” said Jack. ‘‘ Who was the silent man?”’ ‘““] think you’ve seen him a few times, at that.”’ She concealed another smile, and said in the most businesslike manner: ‘‘ Chow- time, Pierre,’ and set out the pans on the table. ‘“ By the way,” he said easily, ‘‘ I’ve got a little present for you, Jack.” And he took out a gold pin flaming with three great rubies. CHAPTER XXXiIII. A COUNT TO TEN. GHE merely stared, like a child which may either burst into tears or laughter, no one can prophesy which. He explained, rather worried: ‘“‘ You see, you are a girl, Jack, and I remembered that you were pleased about those clothes that you wore to the dance in Crittenden School- THE ARGOSY. house, and so when I saw that pin I— well—” ‘Qh, Pierre!” said a stifled voice. ‘“ Oh, Pierre! ”’ “By Jove, Jack, aren’t angry, are you? See, when you put it at the throat it doesn’t look half bad!” And to try it, he pinned it on her shirt. She caught both his hands, kissed them again and again, and then buried her face against them as she sobbed. If the heavens had opened and a cloudburst crashed on the roof of the %ouse, he would have been less astounded. “What is it?” he cried. ‘“ Damn it all— Jack—you see—I meant—”’ But she tore herself away and flung her- self face down on the bunk, sobbing more bitterly than ever. He followed, awestricken —terrified. He touched her shoulder, but she shrank away and seemed more distressed than ever. It was not the crying of a weak woman: these were heartrending sounds, like the sobbing of a man who has never before known tears. ‘‘ Jack — perhaps I’ve done something wrong—”’ He stammered again: “I didn’t dream I was hurting you—”’ Then light broke upon him. He said: “ It’s because you don’t want to be treated like a silly girl; eh, Jack?” But to complete his astonishment she moaned:-‘“‘ N-n-no! It’s b-b-because you— you n-n-n-never do t-treat me like a g-g-girl, P-P-Pierre!”’ He groaned heartily: damned!” And because he was thoughtful he strode away, staring at the floor. It was then that he saw it, small and crumpled on the floor. He picked it up—a glove of the softest leather. He carried it back to Jacqueline. ‘“What’s this?” ‘““ Wh-wh-what?”’ ‘This glove I found on the floor?” The sobs decreased at once—broke out more violently—and then she sprang up from the bunk, face suffused, and eyes timidly seeking his with upward glances. “ Pierre, I’ve acted a regular chump, Are. you out with me?”’ “Well, Pll be (© .OO