The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

LITTLE BOSS ce But LL” “ Shall I come?” he asked. She watched him like a creature hypno- tized. Slowly her hand lifted and slipped under the edge of her low-cut dress. She drew forth the paper. “You must have a pin about you. There! Take that pin in your gown: Pin the paper to the rone. I guess your friend outside can keep it in sight then!” She automaticaliy obeyed him. She un- fastened a bar-pin she wore and pinned the paper to the rope. Then, she sat back and folded her hands like a child who finds satisfaction in achieving something diff- cult. But Ben Moore was riding on the heaven-born wind of joy. ‘“‘ Pick up two of those cushions and go over to that corner!” he ordered with a curious softness in his voice. ‘“T can be—more comfortable here,” she pleaded, unable to keep her eyes lifted to the fire of his. “ That’s no place for me! You know that! But I’m coming if you don’t go over to that corner! Take my gun along.” She rose slowly with the pistol clutched in her hand. She moved toward the win- dowless alcove. Ben faced the window. He made an ironic bow to the unseen watcher. He waved a generous hand toward the paper. “Here’s your bit of paper, my dear Alphonse! ” He crossed the space that separated him from Fan. Half-timid, half-exultant, he stood for a second looking down at her. With one hand gripping the revolver and the other closed tightly and hanging at her side, she stood trembling slightly. ‘“* Don’t—come—any nearer,” she be- sought him. Inside and close beside him, her head flung back as her eyes sought his beseech- ingly was a girl so subtly made of charm and strength that any man would be fool for not suspecting every other man of loving her. And outside was the man with the un- erring gun and the one Ben believed to be her lover. But Ben had slipped the cables of com- mon sense. He was experiencing the first OF BIG BEN. 75 overwhelming emotion of his life. He took her words for proof that she did not regard the man outside as her lover, that she thought him interested only and solely in the bit of paper. ““T will, Fan, I will!” he whispered. He caught her hands. The right ‘one fought his grasp. Masterfully, he forced the warm fingers open. In the pink palm lay two cartridges. His hand shook as he took them. He loosened her clinging clasp of the gun. He saw the empty chambers. It struck him like a blow—her service to the man outside. Grimly, he released her. Still grimly, he reloaded. Then he made himself look at her. She scarcely breathed, though her lips were parted. Her eyes shone with fevered luster. He could not read their meaning. They hurt him. Her empty hands hung limply as they had fallen from his. How she loved the devil outside! How she had lied and deceived for him! She had even put another man helplessly at his mercy. Even in his wretchedness, Ben knew that it was no easy thing for a girl like her to descend to the means she had used. He ex- cused her involuntarily, remembering how she had begged him to keep away from her, to desist in his efforts to find out about the man and the piece of paper. “Why didn’t you say that you loved him?” he asked hoarsely. “T don’t!” Fan answered quickly. A tortured smile drew Ben’s lips. “Do you think any lie you could tell would deceive—after the way I’ve seen you act?” Suddenly there was a report. lamp went out. ‘“‘T jes’ want yuh to know, Mr. Moore, that I’m still on the job!” The.voice came from near the door. Ben heard Fan cry out. He stepped away from her for her sake and his own. “Who is it?” Fan whispered. __Even in his concern with the man he could not locate by sight, Ben felt an angry desire to assure her that such acting no longer served any purpose. ‘““T jes’ want to remind you, Mr. Moore, The big oO Comicbooe S CO