Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

Ls g I, hy Edgar Franklin Author of “ Den't Ever Marry,” “His Werd of Hener,” “The Wicked Streak,” ete. CHAPTER XXVII. MORE EVIDENCE. N unconscious woman, surely, cannot A formulate and execute any definite design. Notwithstanding this, the fainting Sally, to Thomas’s mind, seemed to be deing her best to run true to the dreadful theme of this evening. With a fluttering sigh, her head nestled more confidingly upon his sheulder, send- ing a thrill of pure fright through Thomas Henning as he glanced toward the open cor- ridor door and down at Sally again. Moreover, she was a splendid, firmly built girl, by no means stout, yet far from the featherweight class; viewed from that open doorway, the amount of force that Thomas’s arms were necessarily exerting in the effort to keep Sally from sliding to the floor must have looked like a passionate embrace! All in all, it was really hideous situation and Thomas had been fully fed up with hideous situations since dinner-time! His eyes shot about, like the eyes of a hunted animal, seeking the best place whereupon to deposit Sally Noble while he went for water and smelling-salts. And the scared gasp of a criminal caught red-handed left young Mr. Henning—for in the very door- way of the place stood William Emerson and Dolly herself! — - There was a cynical smile upon William’s lips. Miss Hayes was blanching swiftly; her eyes closed for a moment and then opened again, to stare the harder in the apparent effort to make sure that they had seen aright. . “Are you satisfied now?” Wilham in- quired. ‘‘ I—see!”’ Dolly breathed. ‘“TIs Mary vindicatede”’ | “Yes, Mary’s vindicated!” Miss. Hayes conceded, dully. him!” “Come in,” William suggested. “IT won’t go—into that polluted place!” said Dolly. ‘ Tell him to—come out!” William Emerson’s lips curled again as he looked young Mr. Henning up and down. “You heard the’ lady?” ‘“‘ I—can’t come now! I—”’’ was the best that Thomas could do. . “ Henning, the woman.can spare you-for three or four minutes!” William said, dis- gustedly. ‘“ We'll wait for you in- your flat!”’ | He took the arm of Dolly Hayes and walked her straight through the door across the hall. Thomas came to life with a crash! They were in there now—in there with Mary! They were in the flat which Emerson seemed to feel it necessary to search from end to end at every visit! Thomas looked about wildly. It was brutal, of course, but the couch over there would have to do its best for Sally, until he himself was free to give her further at- tention. Teeth grinding, he dragged the fainting girl across the boudoir; with a This story began in the All-Stery Weekly for July 17. 358 CONNICLOO© Ss ‘“I—want to speak to (CO ww an PS