Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

HONEST FOOL. y * But she can stop here,” said tne boss. “Tl give her a good home—better than the one at Ste. Jeanne—an’ treat her like a daughter. Or I'll give her money. I've injured her, like you say, I'm willin’ to do the right thing now.” “ You do not know ’er,” replied Jules. “You lack the intelligence. But I will tell er what you Say.” Jules drove off upstream with Lem’s bay roadster hitehed to a light wagon. Upon reaching the bushy farm, he found Marcel dressed for the journey, and her little bag packed, and old Mrs. Smith in tears, and old Elbert fuming. The midday meal was ready, and he took the place set for him— but he had no appetite. Marcel was pale but calm. She smiled bravely and frequent- ly patted the old woman’s hand. Elbert fumed and swore. , ‘“T’ve offered her a home,” he told Jules, glaring. ‘‘ She’s like a daughter to us. But, no, she won’t stop!” ““ She ’as a good ’ome,” said Jules. ‘as loving parents.” Elbert continued to glare. Scorn and derision were in the glare. ‘‘ You give me a pain,” he said. ‘ You think ye’re smart— but ye’re a fool! I wish I was free to tell you what a fool you be. An’ what ails you, anyhow? You look like ye’d last all yer friends in the world an’ been sick a-bed a year. Maybe you was shapin’ up yerseli to this here Dora who’s run away with yer yeller-bellied Jeff?” At that, black wrath flamed in Jules’s eves: and the old man sagged in his chair and lost the use of his tongue. Jules and Marcel drove away immediate- ly after dinner. She did not look at him, and he looked everywhere but at her. He was amazed at her control of her grief. He was thankful for it. If she had sobbed— God! What would he have done? He trembled to think of it. They drove along the mossy woodland track in silence. The girl was busy with her own thoughts and with wondering what was in the mind of her companion. Jules was not thinking. He did his best not to think. The Harlow house seemed deserted when they passed it. When they were a short distance bevond it Lem Stalvart stepped ‘* She 980 into the road in front of them; and Jules drew rein. Lem stood with a foot on the hub of a wheel and looked heavy-eyed at the girl. a “1m sorry for ever harmin’ you,” he } said. “I was wrong, it seems; and I’m willin’ to try to make right the wrong I’ve done.” . She glanced at him, and aside, without speaking. “I was tellin’ Jules here I’d look after you,” he continued. “ If you want money-— well, or a good home. I see now I made a mistake not lettin’ Jeff go ahead like he wanted to. I’m through with Jeff. He’s a thief, along with whatever else you want to name him.” “You do not understand,” she said in a low voice. “IT reckon I understand more’n I did. But give it a name. I’m willin’ to do the right thing.” Marcel leaned forward slightly and laid hold of the reins in front of Jules’s hands and shook them smartly. The bay roadster moved briskly forward; and Mr. Stalvart was left beside an empty road, without a hub to rest his foot upon. Jules shook the horse into a trot. ‘ Lem means well,” he said. She did not answer; and as he could not think of anything more to say—-of anything that a proud and hon- est man could say under the circumstances —he relapsed into silence. The long-legged roadster went along at a spanking pace. The little village at the mouth of Porcu-. pine was passed before the silence in the speeding wagon was again broken. This time it was Marcel who broke it. “You have been a good friend to me,” she said in French. ‘‘] regret that I have not been a better one, more wise and more honest,” he re- plied in the same language. “But you are honest.” “T knew Jeff—but I did not warn you.” Again silence; and the big bay trotting steadily and swiftly toward the waiting train. ‘““No one understands,” she said at last. ‘“‘T think every one is blind. Pride is fool- ish—and terrible, sometimes.” Jules made little of that, though he con- COmiclbookks CO