The Argosy, November 1908 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

620 dee? You say this Préntice is honest. Then, since he is president of the com- pany, what chance is there for sculdug- gery?” “Bah!” Weatherby’s lip curled. “‘ You surely must know that the president of a company is very often merely a figure- head, simply occupying that position to be more easily hoodwinked. Colonel Jones,” with significant emphasis, ‘is general manager. “Now, mark you,” and he once more assumed a tone of guarded caution, “I am not asserting that there is anything crooked in the deal. I only say that Prentice might easily be in a position where he would find it almost impossible to get at the real facts.” “Then, you think—?” ‘‘T think,” observed Weatherby re- flectively, ‘“‘ that if I were in your shoes, I would say nothing to anybody, but would slip out to Verdee unheralded, and investigate matters there for myself.” Behan could not but assent to the wis- dom of this suggestion ; yet, as he did so, he colored up and looked embarrassed. “Ah!” said Weatherby, readily di- vining the trouble, ‘a little short of cash, are you? Well, that can be reme- died, I think. There are a few odds and ends still left to your uncle’s estate which will probably bring in something. Give me a power of attorney to dispose of them for you, and I will advance the money you need for present expenses.” Accordingly, it was so arranged, and the papers having been duly drawn up and signed, Dick left to pack up and prepare for his trip to the Northwest. For some time after he had left, the lawyer sat gazing at the power of attor- ney with an enigmatic smile upon his lips; then he stepped over to the tele- phone, and called up the office of Colonel Jones. “Tt’s all right, colonel,’ he said with a touch of elation. ‘‘ He leaves for Ver- dee to-morrow morning!” CHAPTER III. “HE FLOWER THAT BLOOMS IN THE SPRING.” Dick was early at the station the fol- lowing day, and while he loitered along THE ARGOSY. the platform waiting for Weatherby, who had promised to come down and see him off, he caught his first glimpse of ‘‘ Daf- fodil.” He christened her that in a flash of poetic inspiration the moment his eyes fell upon her. Tall, willowy, and graceful, she wore a trim linen shirt-waist, a soft, gray- green traveling skirt with the jacket to match hung over her arm, and above the twists of her shimmering, fair hair a wide, flat hat, shrouded in a gray veil, and wreathed with a circle of yellow corn-flowers. But inevitably as her ensemble remind- ed him of those delicate blossoms of early spring he so loved to arrange in artistic poses before his camera, it was not that so much which made the name ‘ Daffodil” leap to his lips, as the smile which came and went upon her bonny face—a smile winsome and sunny as the drop of gold which nestles in the flower’s heart. Leaning against a post, Dick stood at one side watching her, stirred at the sight of such engaging loveliness, yet never for a moment dreaming that the experi- ence was other than one of the fleeting incidents of travel. But, to his surprise, when Weatherby presently joined him, the lawyer lifting his hat to the radiant vision, murmured ‘““Good morning, Miss Daffodil’’; then, with a quick clutch upon his companion’s arm, drew Behan around the corner of the building. “ Daffodil?” exclaimed Dick incredu- lously. “Is that really her mame?” “Yes,” with evident annoyance; “ that is George Prentice’s daughter, and she is leaving to spend the summer with her father out at Verdee. Was anything ever more unlucky than that she should choose this train?” . “Unlucky?” thought Dick. Then he turned eagerly to the other. “You must introduce me, Weather- by,” he said. “It will relieve the tedium of such a long journey for us both.” The lawyer shied away from the propo- sition like a frightened horse. “Are you crazy?” he protested. ‘What chance is there for- you to visit Verdee incog, with her knowing all about you? No, the only thing for you to do, comlichooks.conn