Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

; TIGER. laughed shortly. ‘“ Think of it! Think of the smiles, think of the side glances'”’ ‘“‘ She can talk,” said Mr. Lodge to him- self, “‘ something besides slang.” He said aloud: “ Those are things he might endure, I believe.”’ “Do you know what she is?” “Well?” ‘“‘She’s the daughter of a saloon-keeper; and now that her father is dead, she runs the saloon herself. A saloon! And there’s a rooming-house along with it: she mins that, too.’’ Not a muscle of his face changed. “She lives with crooks around her— heels, yeggs, basters, knucklers. Talks their lingo; knows their work. Do you want him to marry a girl like that?) Mr. Lodge, take him away!’ She wanted for him to show horror, but instead, he sat back in his chair, studying her; and what he noted was the eagerness of her face as she leaned toward thim, and the grace of the swift gesture of appeal. and ‘the crystal clarity of her eyes. He half Closed ‘his own and his thoughts raced back across a gap of thirty-five years to a fresh, bright day when he had taken his hopes im his hand and—- He winked hard and looked at the girl and the present again. “You aren’t even surprised!" she breathed. ro § y? I am not. “But, Mr. Lodge, is that ‘the sort of a wife you’ve chosen for your son?” “ As a matter of fact,” he chuckled, “‘ I’ve never dared to do any choosing of that sort for Jack; but I’ve a very good idea of the sort of girl who would attract him.” “You have?” ““Ae never liked girls either very tall -or very short. A happy medium for Jack; jand he was never interested in blondes. ‘I should imagine he would be very much excited about a girl sav five feet five or six, ‘with blue-black hair--vou know the kind ich has the shimmer in it?” , “Ves?” she said dubiously, and vet she bung on his words with intense interest. “ And with exceedingly clear, dark eyes-—: geable eyes, you see, with an ability go quickly about a room and see through ings—including men.” 381 “Oh,” said Mary Dover. ‘Is the girl anything like that?” “| think not,” she said gravely. sure not.” “Then I'm at fault. In character, I think he would like a girl full of direct- ness and vigor. A person—hew shall I say? --who Is apt to go where she likes, and see whom she pleases. A girl, in short, who is able to surmount barriers.” Mary Dover frowned quizzically. “One,” continued William Lodge, staring up to the ceiling, “ who could possibly break conventions, you know, but do it so gracefully that people would be grateful to her.” She canted her head to one side and nodded, very serious. “One,” he went on, looking her in the face again, “‘ who is as frank as a child and as Wary as a man: a certain Straight from the shoulder quality; a certain fine bravery; and I can imagine her going without intro- duction to a house surrounded by barriers, and clearing them away from before her—- such barriers as stupid butlers, Miss Dover —and calling for a glum, stiff-starched busi- ness man-—”’ Mary Dover sat on the edge of her chair, her color coming and going. “Who would first be totally astonished by her; and would wind up by being totally charmed by her, my dear.” And he smiled with perfect frankness at the girl. It took her with such a sudden surprise that the flush swept from her throat to her face and made it burn: she pressed one hand against ther breast. ‘“T have only one question td ask you— no, I don’t need to ask even one question. Mary, you love Jack!” &¢ | = “My dear, don’t you see that I’m de- lighted? It couldn't be otherwise. And do you know why? They call him the Tiger, in the Tangle. A very good name for him: and I’ve an idea, Mary Dover, that there’s a bit of the tiger in you as well. I see no problem. You are fond of him; he’s wildly in love with you.” ‘Mr. Lodge,” she cried softly, “ you €¢ Im make me feel that ‘happiasssis dtisthyan made o inn