Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

562 part when that money is safe in Clay City.” Bud eyed him ungratefully, “Well, it’s mighty good of you to trouble yourself about it,” he said softly. “But of course, you appreciate that we can’t permit any one outside the office to influence us In our methods of delivering the moneys of the company.” ‘Why, Bud Halliday!” Marion’s indig- nant voice accused, tried and convicted him like a peal of thunder; and there is no knowing what hot retort from Bud might have wrought havoc in that moment, for Paley Grover emerged from the house and by his coming killed the words dead on Bud Halliday’s lips. A man can’t take a girl to task in front of her father, can he? “Holding a village meeting?” asked Grover genially. ‘No, just listening to a little wisdom,” grinned Bud. ‘““ How’s minin’?” The older man flung the words at Fenton contemptuously. Bud, having always respected Marion’s father, now began to love him. Fenton, however, and to Bud’s great amazement, made no reply. He smiled in the manner of a motion picture actor, conveying a great deal of greeting, understanding and genial- ity with his smile, but he said no word. ‘Then he turned and bowed to Marion. ‘*} must be going,” he announced. But the simple words astonished Bud indescri- bably, for Fenton had spoken them for al! the world as an actor might have spoken. He assumed an entirely new and strikingly different voice for them; a deep, exceedingly quiet voice. “TH ride with you a way,” offered Grover. “I’m goin’ towards yore hole in the ground.” He, too, seemed puzzled by Fenton’s modulations of tone. | “ Thanks,” Fenton stil] murmured. “My car’s in the town. He bowed and departed, striding around the house as an actor leaves the stage, self-consciously. V. Grover gazed after him. “ Queer stiff,” he sniffed. “ He’s terribly clever,” protested Manion. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘Yeah. Doesn’t know a mine from a hole in the ground,”’ said Grover. Bud stood on the step below Marion and watched her father as he disappeared into the barn. They stood silent until the older man had run his car out and had disappeared in the same direction as the unappreciated Fenton had taken. Then Bud indiscreetly opened fire. “Your dad doesn’t seem to think as much of Mr. Fenton as you do,” he burst out. Then he wished he hadn’t said it, because hts words brought a cold glitter to her eyes, and she regarded him for a moment icily. Then her gaze softened. “He’s just like the rest of them,” she replied. “It’s just what Mr. Fenton said. You can’t understand anything that’s different.” Bud, having once brought that icy gleam into her beloved eyes, wasn’t taking any further chances. He tried to think of something he might safely say. She, how- ever, was beiore him. “ Buddy,” she seized his arm with sudden warmth. “JI want you to do just as he suggested!” Bud didn’t say anything. He just stepped up to her level on the steps and, seizing her by the shoulders, gazed into her eyes; but she read nis protest in that gaze and shook her shoulders free. “{ do!” she cried. “I do! Because he is right, Bud! Don’t you see that I want to sez you come oft best? J want you ta win, to get the better of Conway this time. For your sake, ior my sake, I want it! Mr. Fenton’s right. Can’t vou trust me, Bud?” Bud still frowned. “JT wish I could think you meant that,” he said, ungraciously. * But I think you're listening to this fellow a lot more for his sake than for mine. And anyway, Marion, T can’t let any chance enter into this, It’s too important. Can’t you see how PH stand if the pay roll is litted and I have to admit that £ lost it following another man’s plans? And Fenton’s at that! You know what the men around here think of Fenton, don’t you? They call him ‘ Crazy Jim.” But since his first ungracious words, a dangerous light had occupied Marion’s eyes. With that light she now regarded him. Choo C@ < S C@