Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

a - On, Kirvan—” The situation was de- Soa it going for more than half an hour _yet. “ Tell me something about yourself,” She said quickly. .“‘“.Do you know, I know Spothing about you? What do you do?” useful,” he said carelessly. _“ My dad left me too much money.” Diantha smiled to herself. Sutliffe’s _ father had been a bookkeeper in a Chicago bank. — “ But since I’ve known you I’ve become disgusted with my idle life,” he went on. “Then why not change it?” - “Don’t know how to begin by myself. lf I had an inspiration like you in my life I could do things.” Inwardly he was full of sardonic laughter. “ This is the stuff they fall for!” he thought. “This is your better self!” said Diantha soitly. “Why do you make believe to be scornful and self-satisfied?” “TI shan’t with you,” he said humbly. And so the game went on. But she was too lovely, too appealing; he could not hold himself in for long. His arm crept around her waist. @She put it away from her; he put it back. “What time is it, Kirwan?” she asked nervously. He laughed. “ You funny child! difference does it make?” “No, but I want to know.” He indulgently drew out his watch, an ex- pensive repeater. When he pressed a spring a delicate little bell tinkled inside. Two What , ee ee Scoaud Let’s talk about your ~ ">a » —— a é : , : » aw Q | ft ed * 3 rr ? er “a ow thai nad ak » * , * ‘; of Sen “you ‘think you're going to playing with me? I've going to have a she m right nov Diantha was least aftaid 6 ‘ia " he was in a rage. Her chin y : Up. down! Do you think you can ever fi to do something I don’t choose to do?” There was a silent battle between eyes. Diantha won because he was t of losing her, and she-had nothing 45's When she saw his eyes waver and fall, sh made her voice kind again. “ Come and sit down. You ate the door.” Thus a crisis was passed. Diantha knew that her victory could be but a momentary ~ one. Passion overcame the man in suc . cessive waves, each a little higher than the last. For a while they talked about Sutliffe’s | mythical business plans, He had a hard ~ time keeping his mind fixed on it. His eyes were glazed and irresponsible. “Tf you would take me you could do what you wanted with me,” he murmured. Diantha snatched at any chance to pro- long the discussion. “Are you asking me to marry you?” she murmured demurely. It took him sharply aback. He looked at her with an extraordinary expression, half a snarl. ‘“‘ Would you, if I did?” he muttered. “T don’t know. You haven't,” she said. “By God! You're a hardy woman!” * You have called me pretty nearly every- thing by now,” laughed Diantha. Poe you consider yourself fit to mney, ’ he snarled. * = did not anger her. Time was passing. “ How can I say?” she countered. “T don't | know how bad you are.’ “3 “ Bad enough to love you to distraction!” His arm went around her again. — “ Be careful!” : P He took the cajoling line. “ Diantha! Be a little sweet t ne. want you so! Let me Spee eee aa em ae ae 7 —— iS - es ° —_— iano ‘ith an oath.“ D: com