Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

850 * Absolutely,” Marvin nodded. “ And vou want to mind your step, young man.” CHAPTER VI. BRIGHT LIGHTS AND BLACKNESS. NCE more Miss Elton tugged at his arm. ‘Come, Mr. Harmon,’ she urged and led him out of the room like a sullen, panting child. But he went. He went with her because he had reached the stage where he was prac- tically unable to either think or speak; where he was choked by sheer emotion, in- capable of expressing his wildly seething rage. The fools—the fools—the unmentionable fools! Eddie’s brain was whirling in an angry red mist. And his own futility only made matters worse, only nagged him into a state that made his breath unsteady, his expression a bit wild eyed. He went almost stupidly with her. He waited in a glowering silence while his per- sonal belongings were produced, and dis- tributed them about his clothing, still with- out a word. Still following her lead, he accompanied her from the gray stone build- ing and found himself in a night shrouded street, where sputtering arc lights flared. “ The fools—the infernal fools!” he burst out then, voicing the cry of his soul against the circumstantial snarl in which he was enmeshed. “ Can’t anything convince them, or have they simply made up their minds that they don’t want to be convinced?” “It isn’t that, really,” the girl beside him said. “I know it’s terribly unpleasant and fearfully annoying, but—they have to be sure. That’s all it is, I’m certain. And I’m positive they will establish your inno- cence of any improper connection with these other people inside the next few days.” Something in her manner of speaking gave Eddie pause. He was upset; not actu- ally alarmed by the muddle into which he had stumbled, but resentfully annoyed. And perhaps the thing that had upset him most was his total inability to induce any of the men with whom he had come in contact to accept his word. Heretofore he had always made it his boast that his word was as good ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. as his bond. Of course, that was at home where he was well enough known, and here he was a stranger, but— He turned his face to his companion. She was his at- torney. She had voiced her belief in the truth of his story as his attorney, as she needs must, of course. Fresh doubt as- sailed him. What was her personal opinion? He stammered into a question: “* But—you are—convinced?” “I am indeed.” She met his troubled glance directly, lifting steady eyes beneath a corner arc. ‘“ Otherwise I would have refused to have anything to do with your case. Would you like to know why I am convinced of your innocence, Mr. Harmon?” All at once she smiled. Eddie nodded. “ Yes.” Portia’s smile widened. <“‘ Because, for a guilty man, you have such poor control of your tongue. Because you talk too much.” The grip of her fingers tightened on his arm as though by their pressure they would ease any possible sting her statement might contain. With a start, Eddie became aware that they still retained their hold upon him— that she was actually leading him up the street, just as she had led him from the presence of Marvin and Salles, that all after- noon somebody had been leading him around: first Jenkins, and now this girl. Only her touch he didn’t mind. Abruptly he chuckled. He put up a hand and cov- ered her fingers with his own. ‘“T guess maybe I do need a guardian or a guide or something,” he said. ‘“ You see I'm a stranger in town.” Once more her lips parted, flashing the white of her teeth. She withdrew her hand. ‘* That’s better. And I think Mr. Marvin gave you the proper directions for your actions. All you have to do is to go about your business of seeing the city, just as though nothing had happened, for the next few days.” Eddie took a long breath. She was a wise little Portia, and she was 4 most at- tractive woman. In fact, she was the most attractive woman, so far as he could re- call, he had ever known. And they had come together rather oddly and just now he COMG OOO! ©