The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

pt a es ee a = ee eee 300 A TRADE DOLLAR TRAGEDY. loved in her. When it comes to a supreme moment, I pity that man who does not admire his wife. She may have all the small faults that may cause him to writhe, but the unpardonable sin is commonplaceness, I walked over to her. ‘ Julia,’’ I said, ‘‘ this is alla mistake. It is something that I ought to have told you long ago, but I promised There was a stamp of angry feet on the piazza, and a rush and a sobbing howl. ‘Then Johnny threw himself at his mother, something clutched tight in his hand, which he pressed into his mother’s. ‘‘ Cis Marston says this ain’t a good dollar. He says’ they won’t’ take it at the store. He’s brought it back, and says he’s goin’ to take the rabbit. ’’ Julia was perfectly calm and collected by this time. She looked at the coin and held it out almost gently. ‘Is it your pocket piece—your trade dollar ?’’ ; Maude gave a real laugh. ~t ‘‘ His pocket piece? Oh, Julia, that’s a locket. I’ve seen those things before. The plot thickens. Press on the E in the word ‘ States,’ Julia. Let’s see the fun out! ’’ ae ‘‘ Julia,’’ I cried, ‘‘ before you touch that thing, I demand that you listen to me. I would have told you before had not Maude been sitting here.’’ That imperturbable young woman merely smiled up in my face. ‘‘It was not I who was out riding with Mary Marston, but some one else to whom I lent my horse.’’ ‘’ Press on the E in the word ‘ States,’ Julia,’’ said Maude. » It was found under your pillow, however,’’ Julia said, her finger hunt- 3 ing the spring. Sea ‘‘ You shall zo¢ open it until you hear me ! ”’ I sprang for it, and the thin silver lid flew up, showing Mary Marston’s pretty face. ; Maude was leaning over Julia’s shoulder, and she looked up at me. Sometimes in this world, just about as often as a man gets all the trumps on a whist deal, the opportunely saving event arrives precisely on the mo- ment. The disaster can always come. It never seems to require any com- plicated machinery, but the delicate mechanism of a deliverance almost always fails to work. It looks like special providence when it does come. | There was a rush in at the window, and Jim Reynolds, young and ra- diant, with his arm actually about Mary Marston’s waist, swept her into the room. : ‘‘ Congratulate us! The-row is over !’’ Jim simply shouted. ‘‘ The gov- ernors are as thick as thieves again, and we’re going to get married next : month ! ’’ Mary was laughing, but a little shy. Her eye lighted upon her picture in Julia’s hand, and she seized upon it as something diverting. ‘Oh, you have found it, have you? I haven’t been able to catch that boy Cecil all morning. I am simply furious with Jim for leaving it about as tips for maids.’’ Phillips McClure. Eom Ehoo ES Gcom