Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREATEST GAMBLE. him see. The law has got him hard and fast this time. The wealth of the Indies, combined with ‘the influence of princes, couldn't save him. He’ll be tried, and he'll get a heavy sentence. The lawyers I’ve retained for his defence tell me that he hasn't got an earthly chance of escape. I feel a bit sorry for the wretch-—or would, if he wasn’t such an utter and ungrateful scoundrel. Everybody’s run off and left him but me; his own lawyers despise him, and he hasn’t a friend on earth.” Letty’s lips quivered. She had small rea- son to love her father, but this plight he was in demanded some attention from her. Only, now she bore Derrick’s name, and it was an honored one. Dared she risk smirch- ing it? But the real question was: daredl she do anything else? ‘“ Roger, ought I to see him?”’ she asked. “ That’s for you'to say. Perhaps it would be wiser. You might be able to persuade him where I’ve failed, that neither your hus- band nor his family can be of the slightest assistance. If he has a spark of feeling for you, perhaps he’ll be merciful.” “ Then I'll come up to-morrow,” she said with a little gasp. ‘‘Can you keep him quiet until thenr”’ “Yes, if I tell him you’re coming. And now I must be off. Take courage, Letty. I’ve permission to see him again this even- ing, and I'll talk him deaf, dumb, and blind for your sake. I love you very much, my dear. Always remember that-—and it’s not a love that will ever harm you. ‘My heart ached for you when I got your pitiful letter. Of course, you didn't understand what you were doing to that poor Stansbury boy. You were nothing but a child yourself, when it happened, and well do I remember how stricken you were. It was the first time we met, and I think I fell in love with you at once. ‘Your grief was so sincere—so amazed, because you hadn’t understood at all. It would have touched a heart of stone. Now send me a wire to say what train you are coming by to-morrow, and where I shall meet you. And keep up your courage.” He raised her hands and brushed them with his lips. “Oh, Roger, how can I ever repay you!” 329 she cried. ‘ It’s wonderful to have sucha friend.”’ “If you're happy, that’s all the pay I want,” he replied. “+ CHAPTER XX. THE CAT. ULIA TAVENOR crept out of Derrick’s J study as quietly as she had entered it, her pale eyes glowing with the light of fanaticism. She had made one of her hurried trips back from the works, arriving about thir- ty seconds after Letty had taken Roger Fitzgerald into the pink-and-white sitting- room. From Charles she had inquired as to who ‘had arrived by the station cab, and learned from him that it was a gentleman visitor for Mrs. Tavenor, who was entertaining him in her own rooms. Julia did not hesitate. Very likely she sensed in this unusual incident another plain call to duty. She passed through the side corridor to Derrick’s study, which adjoined the sitting- room, and there she remained during the whole of Letty’s interview with Fitzgerald, the door between the two rooms being con- veniently ajar. She had missed but a fraction of their conversation. Some sixth sense even told her when Roger kissed Letty’s hands—only she was not so sure it was her hands. She knew there had been an embrace of some sort, and being what she was, feared the worst. Poor Derrick! Tricked and_ betrayed by this scandalous girl of a scandalous father. Julia’s duty was more than clear, but she showed a distinctly catlike trait in the way She deferred going about it. Metaphori- cally, she licked her lips and purred at the mouse-hole. The creature would come out in time, and then pouncing upon it would be a passionate pleasure. All the same, Julia was hypocritical enough to pretend to herself that she was sorry. Oh, yes, she was very, very sorry, particularly for the fatvous,.truntfyl, Detras