The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

PETROLEUM PRINCE. with him that might even be particularly heinous. ‘The law might take you as an acces- sory to my escape,” he insisted, “and I couldn’t let you run that chance.” Una shook her head vigorously. “ T know Jack Welling,” she assured him. “* He'll have to believe what I tell him.” The man, however, was adamant: “It’s too big a risk. I couldn't let you take it,” and he stepped back well into the room again. Yhis caused her fierce dismay, for she had evidently made up her mind firmly that he was to escape then and there and in the manner she had outlined. She seized him by the bound wrist and tried to force him to the open door, though he resisted, and she found it difficult. ‘“‘ Please, please hurry,” she coaxed and commanded. ‘‘ They’ll come in any minute, and then your chance will be gone.” She managed to stir him only a step, for he was unaccountably strong, even if his hands were useless, and she halted with a gasp of vexation. To complete her dismay he flicked the door shut with his foot and advanced to the center of the room, where he wheeled and faced her, saying tensely: “Very well. Let them come!” She was so sure she was right, and so determined to put her scheme through, that this unexpected opposition made her frantic. She stormed and ordered him to go, and he smiled at her; she pleaded again and he gravely shook his head. Finally she sat down, weakly, in despair, ready to cry. She had heard this about criminals; they never would let you help them; they always interposed their own headstrong notions. He was so accustomed to bluffing and blustering that he could see no other way out of this scrape. The very severe handi- cap he would face in appearing in handcuffs on Fifth Avenue at six o’clock in the eve- ning of a midsummer day did not deter her; she had once thought of it, but had dismissed it then as one of the petty details of duress which a criminal would find no difficulty in evading. She resolved, however, on one last, des- perate appeal. It involved betraying the x 127 Harlingoods, but she quickly reasoned it would probably be for their ultimate bene- fit. If this poor man were arrested in their house the resultant scandal might be embarrassing, though just how embarrass- ing she did not realize. At any rate, she unconsciously at that moment joined further forces with her cousin, who was impatiently waiting in the upper room the return of Fane from the quesé on which she had been sent to accomplish the same errand. However, the method Una chose was destined to result in most unhappy conse- quences, although she did it, as she after- ward tearfully protested, all for the very best. Good motives! Fine intentions! How many men have been hanged for these!’ How many women have lost all for them! She did not know how to tell him out- right what she had in mind, but she led up toit by threatening: “Mrs. Harlingood will never let up on you. She will prosecute you to the limit of the law. You won’t be able to beg out with her. Come now, please go. It’s from _her I’m trying to save you.” _ “She don’t know anything about this. She’s in Bar Harbor,” said the perverse man. Una saw she would have to tell him boldly and outright. She took the bit in her teeth. ‘“‘ She is in this house now,” she asserted coldly. ‘“ You talked with her below in the living-room.” Prince looked at her blandly. It was clear that he had not once suspected the neat little game Arthur and the others had played with him. ‘“‘ There was only the hired girl and the housekeeper,” he replied, open-eyed. “That was Mrs. Harlingood and her daughter, Fane, and Mr. Harlingood and Arthur Harlingood. They are too poor to have servants.” So now the plot lay before him in all its nakedness. He moved about slowly, maneuvering so the light would fall on her face. He wanted to be quite sure of what she said, and also of her veracity. She noted now for the oO Comicbooe S CO