Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

“Te? = ** “ae abt ; , oA aoe Py — * > meagey rote nf ve a =e ie - - nf bina hee a we SY Pry i ee oe as Se <iae ~ & Oh, Vera, whit is the ate?” she about your _ cried. * Letty looks as though she had seen a ghost, and mother never in the world would appear like that before any one in the morning unless there was some fright- fully important reason for her to leave her room! Why didn’t she call me, and what was Letty saying to you just now?” “We didn’t think you were awake.” Vera sought to draw the younger g girl back. “Come into your room, dear—” “1 won’t be treated like a child!” Mil- dred wrenched herself free. ‘‘ I don’t mean to be rude, but there is something you are keeping from me, and I must know! If you won’t tell ia I am going straight downstairs!” “Then you will displease your mother and—” Vera paused, biting her lips, then went on determinedly: ‘‘ and your uncle very much. Come, and I will tell you the little I know myself of what has happened. We cannot talk out here.” “ Your hands are like ice, and your voice —your voice doesn’t seem like you at all, somehow!” The other girl began to sob hysterically, but she retreated into her room, permitting her companion to follow and close the door. “Tell me!” ‘“ My dear, you must try to control your- self. It is about your uncle; he has been taken suddenly ill. Carp is with him, and he sent Letty upstairs for your mother, who asked me to wait here and keep you with me.” Vera looked away, but she gave the explanation in a steady, quiet tone. ‘* Per- haps we had better dress, though, for your uncle may grow worse, and we will have to receive people; the doctor, or possibly some of your uncle’s business associates from town.” She moved to the dressing table and com- _menced to unbraid her heavy, shining hair with fingers that shook suddenly. “Uncle Joe ill!” Mildred’s sobs had - ceased, and she stared in amazement, but there was a singular absence of solicitude in her voice. ‘ Why, he can’t be, Vera! _ He’s 's never known a day’s illness in his life!” oe Ege B touch of the sun from yester- 4 a . =e wy 4 % . A > 8 Teun ae << _ Probably ae Eoey said Mankia. SUSE ICI WM ee . v SS ; : s (a » ag P a = Oe «= . Millie.” Meanwhile Mrs. hes cro patio to the dividing rope er stoo moment motionless, looking beyond» that which lay in front of the I bench. | odd, choking sound came from be arc and she made a gesture as though to ) sf forward, but restrained herself on mained there tense and quivering in eve nerve until Letty came up to her ai and al but cried out at sight of her face. — i | “Oh, ma’am, don’t look like that! i told you—I told you what had happe Just you let me know what you want ¢ ion and I'll do it! Henry Carp’s gone all t pieces, but you know I—I can keep my head, and Geoff Peters is right outside o the terrace.” = a Was there a covert warning as well as” personal assurance in the housema speech? Mrs. Cayley gave no visible si ign. of recognizing either, but she asked i ina é hushed though peremptory tone: pease “What has been done?” ae “ Nothin’ but to put this rope up here. 3 Geoff did that; he said nobody ought te go anywhere’s near and track up the sand ¢ the floor until—until the doctor was got. He said that in—in trouble like ex. t ; doctor would take charge of things.” ‘* Call the man in.” ¥ Br Mrs. Cayley gave one last, shud a ing glance at her brother’s body, and then, drawing her negligee more firmly ahonf. : ; -throat, she turned to where the butler | striving feebly to gather himself together, “Don’t try to rise, Carp. You ound Mr. Benkard, Letty tells me; was ne i ike this? Are you quite sure that he ha d al- : Be passed away?” | = abit was strong in the old servant, a n¢ he made one more final effort to get u o his feet before sinking back inertly ind seat. “T beg pardon, madam, but is a gone feeling, somehow, It ‘ras me f Mr. Benkard, as Letty says, pends: half an hour ago. He was the way him now, and there wasn’t any 2 near him!” ke The quavering voice ere