Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

THE COLLISION. turned again to the job in hand. Nobody was going to put it over on the Averill family while she was present. And she let the invalid know it. ‘“‘T knew that nothing had happened to your nerve,” she informed him. ‘“ Now Ill tell you what you are going to do. We've been looking on this thing as an accident. But you admit that it was your fault. We'll overlook that. We'll overlook the fact that through that accident you got into this house; and seem to have arranged to stay. I say we'll look on this matter as an accident, providing you get right into that little car outside and let Brent take you back to the bosom of your family. See?” He tipped his head to one side and re- garded her. * But Ive already accepted Miss Aver- ill’s invitation,” he pointed out. She grinned tightly. “Tt won’t work, Georgie,” nounced. ‘“ Your bluff is absolutely no good at all. 1 wouldn’t swap it for a sec- ond hand lip stick. When Miss Averill re- turns to these parts, your going to bid Miss Averill and these parts a long farewell, see?” ‘“You mean that you suspect me of run- ning into your car for fun?” “ For the fun of chumming up to James Morley Averill, yes.” “ Holy Mike! You’re kidding me.” “Tf you want to hear how sincere I am, wait until Miss Averill returns, and we'll talk it all over in front of her. There’s lots of things to be said, and sundry sweet remarks might prove unpieasing to the ear of honest labor.” “ For instance?” “For instance the advantages to be gained by an obscure house painter in hav- ing a familiar knowledge of the interior ar- rangements and personnel of a house like this. What a useful friend Mr. Averill could be for you.” “But you don’t suppose I’d go crashing into a high powered car just to get ac- quainted with a rich man, do you?” “Tm just telling you how it sounds.” She suddenly adopted a very serious and what she fondly imagined to be an impres- she an- 191 sive tone. She did not know how youthful and charmingly harmless she appeared di- rectly she permitted herself to be serious. ‘I want to tell you that I have noticed your attempts to ingratiate yourself with Miss Averill, and it’s no use. Your plans, whatever they are, are quite hopeless as long as I am wise to them. So don’t you think you’d better go now and avoid a scene?” While she had thus spoken to nim seri- ously, his face had gradually softened. A twinkle had appeared in his eye, and when he spoke it was with profound hu- mility. ‘* Miss Hooray,” he said, “ you are right. I’ve always wanted to have a ride in a mil- lionaire’s car, and I think [ll let your chauffeur take me down to the village. I may never have another such chance again.” Alicia entered just as he rose to his feet, and she stepped quickly to his side, anxious that he should not hurt himself. ‘You must rest!” she cried. “No. It is kind of you, but I must go.” He smiled at her, and found her eyes so near his own that he felt it necessary to turn them quickly from her. He realized that he had never seen such eyes before. “What are you talking about?” asked, amazed. ‘Mr. Drayton has decided that he had better get back to his wife and family,” said Marion cheerily. ‘“T merely said family,” he corrected her coolly. ‘“ But are you sure that you are strong enough?” Alicia looked from one to the other in perplexity. “ Yes, quite strong enough. Will you give me a hand to the door?” Marion eyed him narrowly. “Brent can do that,” she said, and she called to the chauffeur who was at the door. “ Assist Mr. Drayton to the car,” she di- rected, and smiled into his eyes as the chauffeur relieved Alicia’s arm of its bur- den. ‘Where shall he drive you?” inquired Alicia, solicitously. “To—” He gazed for a moment into her exquisite face. “Oh, to the shop, of she Gomichbooks