Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF “You!” he said. ‘“ My daughter came to me in tears, Henning! You told her, as you have doubtless told others, that my son here, Weldon, was under the influence of alcoholic liquor and—” “T know—yes!”’ Thomas said brightly. “That was an error!” “A what?” ‘An error. Some one told me—” “Tt Tl be a costly error for you, Hen- ning,” the deacon stated. “ I’ve routed my lawyer, Penderson, out of bed—and he'll have papers in a suit against you prepared before he ever sees that bed again, I'll warrant!”’. ‘“* A—er—suit?”?:-_ ‘Yes, and it will be pressed for the very limit of damages into the very last court - in the State!” the deacon pursued, quite specifically. ‘‘ I'll teach you, as I’ve taught others in this town—”’ “Wait!” Thomas cried. little matter—that was all a mistake! apologize for that, of course, and—”’ “ What? You mean here?” “As to that I'l “ This very instant! I beg your pardon! I beg Weldon’s pardon! I beg Dora’s par- don for bothering her! It happened—”’ “ That’s enough!” barked Deacon Pitt, compellingly. ‘“ That glib tongue of yours did its foul work publicly. Your reparation will be just as public—indeed a trifle more so! Before I’m through with you, I’ll wring every penny that a just law—” “Tt’s open! Come in!” said a strong voice behind him. And the deacon paused and looked about, just as Uncle Arthur had paused a little while ago; and they, with the virtuous Wel- don and the infamous Thomas, stared at Dolly Hayes herself—Dolly and the short, thick-chested man who was with her and™ who chanced: to be her father. : Nor was he merely Dolly’s father. This was the only David Hayes, chief in a busi- ness way of the old Grimshaw faction; this was the David Hayes who presided over the Traders Bank and who owned the three mills in South Braydon; this was the man his friends, quite admiringly, called ‘‘ Fight- ing Dave!” He flourished no club just now, nor did he seem markedly excited; but there was THE BRIDE. something distinctly queer and unpleasant about his mouth as he marched through the group to Thomas Henning and looked him up and down. ““ Well, Henning?” he said simply. “ Good—er—evening! ” Thomas mur- mured. “Tm not here to waste words. You un- derstand my mission perfectly; Dorothy 867 | was angry when she returned home—very — angry, indeed. She may Possibly have ex- ageerated. “Ive always liked you, until now; I give you that loophole, if you wish to clear yourself and do it very quickly and. very, very convincingly, Henning!” Thomas drew a deep breath. He sought to look David Hayes in the eye; it was useless. He coughed and essayed a frown, which was also a failure. “Clear myself of—of what?” he asked weakly. ‘William Emerson has informed her that he surprised you in this very flat in com- pany with Mrs. Noble, your partner’s wife. Later, with her own eyes,.she saw Mrs. Noble in your embrace. Well?” ‘* David!” gasped Deacon Pitt. that sort, too?” “ Huh?” cackled Uncle Arthur. ‘“‘ What’s that? What ’d he say? Mrs. Noble, was it? Sally? Huh! Is he that sort? Why, that young devil mrust have half the girls i in town—”’ “Well?” Mr. Hayes repeated, and ‘it seemed to boom this time. Thomas cleared his throat again. “TI see,” he said smoothly and with really ‘admirable calm. “ This is one of those— er—unfortunate cases in which circumstan- “Is he tial evidence, apparently —er—damning in itself, but actually having no—”’ 7“ I think that’s all, Henning,” Hayes said. ‘It is so then. I need not go to the ‘length of forbidding you my house and any intercourse with my daughter?” “If you will give me time to explain—”’ “ A matter-.of this character that requires time, canno* ‘e explained,” Hayes said briefly. “The next time you’re caught like that, put a little passion and fiery outrage into your denial. ‘“ And the next time we meet, Henning, COUMIUC AOOLK (CO wo