Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

852 ‘“ They’re trying to do their duty.” His companion sobered; an almost introspective expression crept into her violet eyes. * They're trying to uphold the law. Try and think how sure they have to be in this matter. Think what those men meant to buy with their hundred thousand dollars, the secret that keeps the genuineness of such money as this on the table between us safe—the secret of bleaching India ink. Look at it as Marvin must look at it, Mr. Harmon. Don’t think quite so much about yourself.” ‘‘ By Jove!” A slow flush mounted into Eddie’s cheeks. He blinked his eyes. Portia had some tongue, and the most dis- concerting way of hitting a fellow when he wasn’t looking. Still—she was right. Hang it, she was right. There was some- thing to be said on the other side of the affair. Marvin had even hinted at it in the beginning of his story of the thing this evening. And, of course, Portia had seen it. She had a sort of logical head. She was some lawyer—some little lawyer. For a girl she was—immense. “Of course, they don’t know me from Adam—and of course it’s their duty to prevent anything like that. Maybe I have been too self-centered, Miss Elton, though naturally until now I have been mainly concerned with myself. Still—if that sort of thing got into the wrong hands, it would mean the biggest counterfeiting coup of years. It would—why, Good Lord, it would make the whole country’s currency unsafe!” As he went on, Eddie’s interest quickened. “Exactly,” Miss Elton assented. ‘So you see—”’ “What sort of a job Salles and Marvin have on their hands—how careful they’ve got to be not to make a mistake—and what it meant when Jenkins, thanks to me, let Blumefeldt give him the slip.” Eddie spoke quickly at first and then more slowly. “ And T see that it took you to make me see it.” ‘¢ Oh, but-—a lawyer is trained to see both sides of a case, Mr. Harmon. Théy must.” Eddie shook his head. All at once he was very humble and very sincere as he rejoined: ‘ Anybody would have seen that unless he was a boob. They got the three we saw, but the big bird flew out the win- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. dow—and he’s got both the formula and the Murgson crowd’s hundred thousand, and nobody knows where he is, and I helped him get away with it without meaning to do it, but—horestly I wish I knew more about it. I’d like to help get that chap, if IT could.” His companion’s face softened, became for a moment some way wistful, took on the strange, instinctive, illusive maternal appearance, the face’ a woman, be she wife or virgin, may sometimes wear. For a time she stared back into Harmon’s eager face, his impulsively lighted eyes, and then: “So I didn’t judge you wrongly after all, Mr. Harmon,” she said. ‘“ You have the impulses of an honest man, the man who wants to play the game squarely, to win by his own ability in a strong two-fisted way, not by treachery, or deceit or fraud.” ‘Of course,” Eddie replied. His voice was not entirely steady. Some way such praise from Portia’s lips made him feel a trifle odd—-was a balm of healing to his sadly wounded pride. “I’m glad our ideals are the same,” she said not slowly nor quickly, but in quietly positive fashion. “So am I. Honestly Miss Elton, I’m glad to know that is your ideal of a man.” With a swiftly purposeful gesture, Eddie put out a hand and covered hers, still lying stretched out toward him on the cloth. Without any undue haste, but deliberate- ly, she drew free from his touch. ‘“ How- ever, we are getting away from the original point of discussion, aren’t we? Since the bill is probably Blumefeldt’s what are you thinking of doing with it?” she asked. “* T’d like to return it to him,” Eddie de- clared with a touch of double meaning in his voice. ‘“* And—” she seemed to understand all he implied, “‘ what: about the other thing he gave you?” “I'd like to return that—with interest— if I could get the chance.” Miss Elton nodded, smiling. “T believe you would. But under the conditions, I think you had best let me take this money.” “You?” Harmon questioned. “Yes. In all my experience I don’t be- COMIG DOO! (©