Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THROW UP YOUR HANDS. O00 ‘“ When I think of the marvelous, glorious adventures I’ve been through in such a short time it makes me almost want to cry for the poor girls in the cities who will never, never have such opportunities. Just think, Larry! In these few hours I’ve been accused of attempted murder, I’ve become the pal of highwaymen and outlaws, I’ve narrowly missed being killed by a rattle- snake, I’ve been shot at with reai bullets, and I’ve been through an avalanche! “Oh, how glorious life is! If this ex- citement could only go on and on forever! And here—here I am at last in these heav- -enly mountains that I’ve always longed for! Isn’t it simply wonderful, Larry?” Red Wilpin looked at her tousled hair, her shining eyes, her flushed cheeks, her radiant smile, wonderingly. ‘Vou sure are one romantic little cuss,” he said. “ But we are pals, aren’t we?” ‘“‘ Sure we are, kid.” ‘* And—and you don’t suspect me any more, do you?” she said sweetly. ‘““ Of coss not.” “How about them beans?” Friday growled. “Oh, stop your everlastin’ bellyachin’, Friday,” the young man groaned. ‘“ Give the kid a fightin’ chance.” : His old retainer sniffed. “I knew it. Yo’re a-changin’ that fool mind of yourn agin. Yo're a-fallin’ in love.” “T ain’t fallin’ in love. The woman ain’t been born I’d fall in love with.” “ That’s whut ya say. Wall, whut’re ya a-goin’ t? do in the end? Whut’re ya a-goin’ t’ do when we git through with this leetle picnic and git ready t’ settle down again and live respectable? Whut’re ya a-goin’ t’ do with her then?” ‘“T ain’t figgered it out.” “Of coss ya ain’t figgered it out. The figgerin’ ain’t in yore hands. -Wall, I'll tell ya, m’ son. “It’s whut always happens. Ya'll git used t’ seein’ her around. Ya’ll git used to her leetle ways. Ya'll git so ya cain’t stand t’? miss th’ way she bubbles over and laughs, and th’ way her hair comes down t’ a funny leetle p’int on th’ nape of her neck, and th’ way her eyes light up when ya say _No, thanks! somethin’ clever. And when she’s gone ya’ll mourn her as if somebody was daid.” “ Wait a minute, Friday,” Margie put in crisply, ‘‘ maybe Ill have something to say about that.” ‘““Whut in Sam Hill can ya say? Yo’re a-bein’ swept along in th’ same current. Ya'll-be so used t’ th’ rough ways he treats ya, yall jest pine away without him.” ‘“ Oh, don’t be so silly.” “Silly!” the old man shrilled. bust out a-cryin’ at th’ way you two young folks are a-dallyin’ with dynamite. Fust yo’re sore at him, then he’s sore at you. Fust you save his fool life, and then he saves yourn. Fust you wrangle, and then, fer no excuse or other, ya go a-creepin’ into each other’s arms and croon like a coupla doves! Silly, am I?” Margie’s cheeks were aflame, and she could not meet his accusative, triumphant glance. “Silly, am I? Wall, whut’re people a-goin’ t’ say about this leetle expedition? Whut difference does it make if I’m along? I suppose th’ two of ya think people ’re jest goin’ t’ set back and say, ‘Oh, how nat- ural!’ and ‘ Oh, wa’n’t it a lark!’ when they hear th’t a beautiful young gal and a hand- some young buck went and got theirselves lost in th’ mountains fer a few days. Ya shore have got a pair of innocent minds ef ya think that.” Red Wilpin groaned. ‘“My Gawd, Friday, I’m beginnin’ t’ wish we’d never brought you along. Every time we begin to feel good and happy and natural, you trot out a passel of poisonous ideas. Gosh darn it, if you’re goin’ t’ feel so sensitive and if Mar- gie’s goin’ back into the world with a blast- ed reputation, Vl pull in at th’ next min- ister’s and marry the girl.” “Will your” Margie shapped. ‘ Well, let me tell you something, Larry Wilpin. I wouldn’t marry a red-headed man if he was the last human being on earth. And the man who marries me is going to want me so badly he won’t be able to eat or sleep. No red heads for little Mar- gie. I want peace and I want—love.” ‘“ Well,” Red Wilpin took her up angrily, “who in Sam Hill said anything about love? I ain’t sayin’ I don’t like you, but cCoOmiclboolK ‘“T could | CO