Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

FIXED BY GEORGE. “ And I’ve just been congratulating my- self that I was very much all right.” The painted woman smiled, and tapped the spot over Margery’s concealed cards signifi- cantly. “{ mean about our errand here. I haven’t the time to go into all the details, but our coming isn’t the shady affair it seems; in fact, our mission was rather creditable, and if it hadn’t been for your own presence it would have worked out nicely. As matters stand, all we ask is to let it drop, and you’ve no right to prevent that. Poole is coming in a very few min- utes, and—” “Why cn earth do you say that?” “ Because I asked him tto come, and he said he would.” If he had done nothing else, he had suc- ceeded in annoying the lady. An irritable line appeared between her decorated eye- brows; she raised them, and smiled acidly. “When you were bringing his wife here, _ that would have been the natural thing to do, of course. I wish you’d drop that particular line. It isn’t at all convincing, you know. The lady’s effort at the same thing might have showed you that.” “What do you mean?” “Simply that I’m not an _ imbecile, George, as I said before!’” Miss Woodbury said impatiently. ‘I understand that you have to writhe a little before you settle down here for the evening, but I wish you’d do it intelligently.” “ Well, I can’t alter the truth because you refuse to believe it!’’ George said warmly. “’m trying to show you that you'll wreck at least cne family, and possibly two by keeping us here.” “You should have thought of that before you started on the excursion, George,” the painted lady sighed. ‘ Accidents will hap- pen, you know.” “ Yes, and they always happen to you, George!”’ Margery Poole broke in; quite un- expectedly. Briefly, George stared at her. Some of her suspicion as to his motive seemed to have departed; she was regarding George now with anger and accusation in her eye —weirdly enough, with almost the same ex- pression that had been in Geraldine’s eye 205 this afternoon, just following Deacon’s de- parture. However, he could not pause to refute the unkind statement just now; min- utes were passing steadily, and with every one of them Arthur Poole and his wretched woman were coming nearer. So George turned back to the painted ~ Woodbury lady, and considered her mock- ing, cynical amusement. He was making no- progress at all. He drew breath for an- other effort. ‘‘ What I’m trying to show you is simply that you’re endeavoring to take an advan- tage you really haven’t—in justice, I mean,” he said forcefully. ‘‘ We came here on an errand; we should have gone again, having found the house occupied, but that somebody stole my car.” Miss Woodbury started; for a moment a smile of extraordinary brilliance flitted across her beautiful lips. ‘““ Er—yes,” she murmured. “ That, of course.” George stared blankly. ‘Why the ‘ of course?’ ” ‘“‘T mean,” said the lady, and glanced up at the shadowy, beamed ceiling, “‘ that that would be the simple way of explaining the dismissed hack.” “Well, there was no dismissed hack!” George Dare shouted, temper slipping fast. “And I’m not going to stand here all night and let you smirk at me, either. Do you get that? We’re leaving!” ce Ah?” “And if you ever breathe one word of our presence here, I’ll make it so hot for you that—” “Stop, George!” Miss Woodbury said sharply. George stopped. There was something in those eyes just now that would have stopped a stronger man than George. Indescribably narrowed and keen, they seemed to be slic- ing through him! They kept on slicing, too, as Miss Woodbury sank into a chair beside the table, rested one bare elbow upon the board, rested her perfect chin upon her closed hand, and smiled, faintly and dread- fully. ‘Sit down, George!” she said softly. ce | Ls “Oh, do it, George! Do it!” Margery Eomichoo S Cor