Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

how sorry I am we quarreled the other day. I bought the paper in Tunbridge Wells and read about—about that only a few moments ago.” “ Well?” he asked again. you think about it?” ** And what do _- There were queer little lines at the cor- ners of his mouth which disturbed her. They made him look hard and cynical. “ T don’t know what to think, Dick. But I—oh, I won’t believe you ever did anything so horrible. {I won’t—I won’t! Nothing could make me believe it.” “* Former sweetheart convinced of prisoner’s innocence,” Dick ‘muttered. “Thanks very much, Evelyn.” Don’t!” “That’s how it will read. I’m sure I ought to be grateful. Is there—something I can do for you?” She stood looking at him, her soul in her eyes, drooping pitifully. “JT thought perhaps you needed me, Dick—as I felt I needed you. Oh, I don’t care what you’ve done!” she blazed out suddenly, her love for him eclipsing every other emotion. ‘‘ I don’t care, Dick. You could only have been mad if—but, then, | don’t believe that. Even if you were mad, you couldn’t have done that. Why, Dicky dear, the only thing dad ever held against you was that you hate hunting and say it’s cruel.” Dick laughed sharply. “ Therefore, I couldn’t have strangled a woman for her jewelry—-or whatever other reason it might have been.” “Don’t!” She put her hands to her face. His voice was hoarse as he turned away. “The truth is, I don’t know myself,” he said. “If what Jimmy says—if all this talk about the subconscious mind has any- thing to do with it—I might even have bought a case for that confounded thing and sent it to you. For one thing is cer- tain: if I suddenly went mad and killed that unfortunate woman, it was because I admired the pendant she was wearing, and wished I could get one like it for you.” Evelyn sank down on the seat where she had waited and cradled her head in her arm, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The housekeeper, peeping out for a mo- ment at one of the windows, exclaimed to herself: “ They’re a-making of it up, the dears! Well, that’s a blessing.” She retreated to the rear of the house and kept the maids busy about her. Per- haps the young master would persuade Miss Evelyn to stop to lunch, after they had “made it up.” It mightn’t be absolutely proper, but it would be pleasant, and sure- ly, just for once, that particular Mrs. Har- land couldn’t complain. “YT went back to the house afterward,” Dick was saying. “ Only Bill-Charley and Jimmy know that. Id left my cigarette case, and I went back to fetch it. I’ve cabled Bill-Charley that he must come home. I don’t know what I’m in for. That’s all very problematical.” ‘ You—went—back!” Evelyn exclaimed. Dick pulled himself up sharply. The last thing in the world he meant to do was to make a bid for her credulous sympathy, She might pity him, if she liked, but she must not be persuaded to believe him inno- cent. The risk for her was too great. It was bad enough to have Jimmy lying for him, unasked, and messing things up generally with tales of orange peel and.the underground railway stairs, without drag- ging Evelyn into it. “Yes, I went back,” Dick said. ‘““ And—and then what happened? got your cigarette case?” “ No, I didn’t. I came away again with- out it.” “ Dick, I don’t think I understand.” ‘“There’s nothing more I can tell you. Evelyn, will you go home now? Whatever happens, I don’t want you to worry too much. You were right when you said you were through with me. It’s done—finished. I’m not worthy of you, and thank Heaven, I’ve still got enough decency in me to know it.” ‘Dick, youre going to kill yourself! I know you are. Jimmy says you keep a revolver in your dressing room—”’ “So Jimmy’s been writing to you, has he? For what it’s worth, Evelyn, I give you my word of honor that suicide is about the last thought in my mind. I—I’d rather hang.” You COMIC OOO KS (E@)