Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 2, 1922 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

494 think of the justice of God? Gurfy, what would he think if he sat here beside us, on the porch which his father built, and looked up to the house on the Heights which Stir- ling bought with blood?” “He'd get a gun,” said Gurfy fiercely, “and he’d go for Charles Stirling.” “T think not,’’ answered Kain. “ There are other ways of killing than with a gun— ways that torture more because they take longer. You said it yourself a moment ago when you told me that the heart of Mar- garet Cameron died when her husband ran away from the town.” “There may be ways with common men,” said Gurfy, “ but how could a body reach them three—so high up there? No, sir, they’s no way but a gun!” “I wonder,” said Kain, and then, start- ing up, struck his hands violently together. “ Gurfy, a house divided against itself can- not stand!” “ What was that?” asked the startled old man. “ Nothing, nothing, nothing!” cried Kain, who seemed at once to break into almost violent good humor. He repeated under his breath: “ A house divided against itself cannot stand!” And then he clapped Gurfy good-humoredly upon the shoulder. ‘““Let me have the picture,” said Kain, and, taking the photograph, he looked upon it long and earnestly. “ At least,” he said, “ the face is honest. A child and a fool could see that at a glance. But even if he were guilty, Gurfy, even if he were guilty as hell, did he deserve his punishment?”’ “No,” cried the gardener, ‘‘ because he was a kind man, sir. Ive sat here on this very porch with him. He would ask after Alice. He’s given me cigars and talked politics with me, and always he would say ‘Mr. Gurfy’ to me, and not ‘ Joe,’ like some of the scum that I work for to-day. He was as kind a man as you, sir!” “Kind?” repeated Kain. “ It’s the first time in my life, I suppose, that I’ve been accused of kindness. Well, well! You’re nervous after your long story, Gurfy. Your hands shake a little. Come inside and we'll have a drink before you go home.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘“ 'There’s the lawn to cut still,” protested Gurfy as he followed Kain through the front door at a rather timid distance. “The lawn shall wait,” said Kain, and he favored Gurfy with one of his rare smiles. The gardener stood with his feet close together on the soft rug, trying its texture cautiously with the toe of his shoe, and his abashed eye went from piece to piece of furniture. The master of the house poured out a stiff three fingers for his guest and an- other for himself, and then stood, glass in hand, staring down at the picture of David Cameron. “How shall we drink it?” he asked. “ Why,” said Gurfy, “ I’d drink to a man that wasn’t too proud to be my friend. And Joe Gurfy ain’t too proud to drink to him now. Here’s to David Cameron!” “To David Cameron!” said Kain, and stiffened to his full, slender height. When he had drunk the toast the glass slipped from his fingers and crushed in a myriad tinkling fragments on the floor. Joe Gurfy automatically stooped to his knees and started to brush up the pieces. “Let it be,” said Kain. “I will attend to it later.” : ‘‘ D’you know,” said Gurfy with an apol- Ogetic grin as he straightened again, “ it sort of seemed to me that you dropped that glass on purpose.” “ Really?” said Kain. CHAPTER VI. HE MEETS THE WOMAN WITHOUT MERCY. OR two days Kain walked the streets continuously. He began late in the morning, paused for rest at noon, con- tinued through the afternoon, appeared in some theater in the night, and afterward went to several cafés, pausing in each only long enough to take a table and make a thorough survey of the guests. He con- tinued this restless progress throughout the third day, dressed in the same manner in the black clethes which he affected upon almost all occasions, with a small yellow blossom in his lapel and swinging a slender, yellow cane; a costume conservative enough, but Gomichbooks.com