The Argosy, April 1916 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

A MYSTERY OF ROSCOE CONKLING PARK. however, introduce me to myself. What is your husband’s name?”’ “Owens. We are Mr. and Mrs. Owens, if anybody should ask you. Now tell me what happened to you. You got well bunged up.” “My story will wait. It is only a trailer, anyway. We are partners in deceit, if not in crime. Some day we'll be partners—” “This is a temporary makeshift that I believed was for the best. Please don’t take advantage.” ‘“‘But—won’t you kiss me, Beverly?” “TY will NOT!” Her violet eyes fairly blazed. ‘‘No man has ever kissed me, and no man ever will except my husband.” At that moment Adolphus entered. ‘““My mudder gomes. She sday mid you. He iss not midout prains now. Loogs ped- der.”’ A withered crone followed him into the room. CHAPTER XXI. ON THEIR TRAIL. "THE old woman, whose only appellation among them was “The Dame,” proved to be an excellent cook. With Yale’s money Adolphus was an extraordinary pro- vider. Nobody could even guess where, in that hilly, forest covered region of scattered rural homes, with villages far apart, he found the good things he provided. But they lived well. Yale finally got his story told, but it was not till the day was ending. They sat un- der a spreading maple bereft of leaves, on a stationary rustic bench that ran all around it. ‘“‘So it was my poor little handkerchief that gave you the clue and led you to seek information from Mrs. Jarratt?” “Well, partly. I thought you had dropped it to guide me, or whoever came in pursuit.” “But you thought, after Mrs. Jarratt had told her story, that I went willingly with the women.” “Yes, I thought so; so did she.” ‘“‘Now you know better. drop my handkerchief purposely. I fancy that one of the men took my purse from my pocket when they put me in the surrey, and pulled the handkerchief out by acci- dent. But what does all that matter, now that we are here, and safe?” And I did not 43 “We are here, and safe. But we must notify the chief of police of Utica where we are.” ‘We shall do nothing of the kind.” She spoke with finality. Her tone indi- cated that she would brook no opposition. ‘But we are innocent. We have nothing to fear. And if we continue to hide away it will only add to their suspicions.”’ “Enough of that, Mr. Owens.” He made a comical grimace. “Helpless I lie, or sit, lugged from house to bench by a huge brute of a foreigner, who lifts me like a sack of meal, and I’m a henpecked husband without being married.” “Yes, and you will continue to be. I am not going back until those stupid police have found some kind of clue to the real thieves.” | “And you think—”’ “That if they can make an easy case of us they will look no further. Why, think of the thing as it is. Here I am, a girl with no real home, and no firm friendships. My aunt lives in a hotel, and seldom in the same one very long. I have gone from pil-. lar to post in search of pleasure, always welcome because—because I am I—and always criticised by the staid and good ones afterward. Who’ve you got to fight for youre “You see? We are orphans indeed. Well, I’ll do the fighting if there is any to be done till you get solidly on your feet, and then I'll hand the powder magazine over to you. But I'll not go to jail for a crime I did not commit.” At dinner, or, as Adolphus probably looked at it, supper-time, the stalwart blond carried Yale to the house very much . as Yale had said, like a sack of meal. Still, with all his giant strength he was very gentle. There was a dull sort of wonder in his eyes when he looked at Beverly. He knew that a lovely girl did not ride a harnessed horse without a wagon around | the country looking at farms to let. He knew that husbands did not pop out of woods and fall down unconscious with swollen feet, bruised muscles, and a fever. Such things might occur at times, but there would always be a reason. phus wondered whether some other wife or husband. had been left behind to mourn. But he never asked a question. The old woman held a detached and im- © personal position. She could not under- OOOLK So Adol- . ©