Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF studied Sally Noble. And Sally was be- ginning to believe! “So you’d better hurry on home now and start the biggest excitement Braydon has seen in some time,” he concluded. * It ‘ll be wonderful for you and Peter and Mary and her husband will probably sue you for slander and defamation of charac- ter and Heaven knows what else—but just go, Sally, while you’re good and mad and capable of doing the mischief!” His words were sinking deeper. Thomas, with a kindly, almost a paternal smile, came to Mrs. Noble’s side. “Sally, dear, don’t be so absurd,’ he said gently. ‘‘ You know what a good old soul Pete is and how incapable he is of anything like that. Don’t you?” “ Tve—always thought—” ‘““And you were right! So, instead of starting something that nobody can stop, why not go home and sit down and calm dewn for a little. Peter himself is bound to turn up inside of an hour now—he never works after midnight. Have you phoned the office?” : é¢ No.” “Do it. And if he isn’t there, call up the Motor Corps headquarters and get the facts about that hurry-call. And give me that bag, Sally,” said Thomas, detaching it gently from her fingers and setting it upon ‘the chair at his side. ‘‘ Not to mention the slight inconvenience it may make for Mary when she gets back, that thing’s like dyna- mite in your hands just now.” His smile grew still more kindly and patient. He patted Sally Noble’s shoulder. Looking at him just then, one might have fancied that Thomas was a doting parent, seeking to quiet a wayward child. Nor was that quick, doubtful, upward glance of Sally’s altogether unlike the glance of a wayward child, almost, not quite, con- vinced of her waywardness. “Tom, if—if you're not telling me the truth—” she began. “Sally, how in the world can I be telling you anything but the truth, so far as [ know it or can guess it?’”? Thomas laughed, desperately. “I don’t know anything about your husband or Mary to-night, except that I’d stake my life that they’re not together. THE BRIDE. 861 I’m trying to keep you from wrecking your own life and Peter’s. Well?” A final quarter-minute Mrs. Noble hesi- tated, gazing at the bag. Then she looked up suddenly. “Tl see if I can get Peter at the office,” she said. ‘‘ May I use your phone?” “You may not, Sally!” smiled Thomas. “You may have sized me up for a villain this evening, but I’m really a very punctil- - ' jous person and I’m keeping bachelor hall here at present. Any of that wild crowd across the street may happen in here to see me at any moment, and it would look just a trifle odd if they found you here. You go home and do your telephoning there.”’ ‘““T—yes. Very well,” said Sally Noble, she started for the door. | ‘“‘ And if you don’t get Peter at first, stick to it,” Thomas advised. “It’s a good deal of a job getting down-town numbers at night, Sally.” ) “I know,” said Mrs. Noble. . A in ‘At~ “CHAPTER XXVIII. MARY'S WISH COMES TRUE. HE was on her way! Aye, and she was leavmg behind her that precious black grip which meant so much to Mary and to Thomas Henning! The glorious cer- tainty went through Thomas with a giant throb. Her back was toward him, of course, and she could not see. His face widened into the smile of a man who glimpses Heaven! His mouth opened joyfully, for an inaudible cheer. His hands flew up in exultation. He— why, he was facing the reflection of Sally Noble’s countenance in the accursed mir- ror over there! Thomas subsided suddenly. Mrs. Noble did not subside. With the speed of a tigress she whirled about—she was past him—she had recaptured the bag and- was clutching it to her bosom, as she backed toward the door and panted: “Oh! I was right! I was right! And you nearly talked me into leaving it behind, didn’t you! You all but talked me out of the very evidence I—oh, you beast! You beast!” COMING OOOKS.COM