Argosy, Vol. 122, No. 1 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

THE HOUSE “You will. Dll! make it plain.” La Salle leaned forward, fixing the older man with his stare. He spoke with an unusual animation, rapidly, with conviction: “ You know something about what I can do, don’t you? You know I started from nothing and you’ve seen me make a fortune? Yes; I did it alone, too. Nobody coached me or stood behind me. I did it! But that’s only the start. Before I’m through I’m go- ing to be a—a—power, a power in big busi- ness! One reason I can do it is because I know where I’m weak. When I know that I look around and find what it is I need— then—I get that thing. Thawn, I always get the thing I need.” He illustrated the point with his power- ful, outstretched hands, opening the fingers wide, clesing them slowly in a death-grip on seme intangible desire he saw before him. “Now, Thawn, I find you have some- thing I need in my business—” “‘T have—something—” : “Yeu have something I need. I’m going to make you an offer for it. I want your daughter—Diana.”’ Thawn, who had been leaning forward, tremulous with eagerness to hear La Salle’s message, collapsed suddenly in his big chair, sagging back among its cushions, limp and old and a little frightened. For the mo- ment he believed La Salle had lost his reason. He repeated feebly: “ You want Diana! You!” ““ Exactly. No need to stare that way, I’m not crazy. I find I lack one thing necessary to my plans—a woman of the ‘right sort—in a word, your daughter. In exchange for her I’m offering you a fortune. Is there anything so shocking about that? Is there anything awful In my seeking an alliance with your family?” “ You are mad,” Thawn whispered. “Am I! You would be mad to refuse this offer. I want your daughter for my wife—”’ “You have a wife!” “TI kad one.” La Salle smiled. “ She is no more. The woman whe called herself my wife was foolish enough to run off with a man who was a big enough fool to think her worth the taking. I found that out to-day—this afternoon. The rest of that 133 business is a mere legal formality. When I learned Gloria’s news I came direct to OF FRAUD. you. Yes, I play fast while I have the luck—” “Luck! You call—that—tluck?” “The best of luck. This woman—Glo-+ ria—I met her while I was young. There was some foolishness, a sentimental attach- ment. I married her while I was young and ignorant, and ever since she has been a drag upon me—a weight around my neck, a load on my back. She had nothing to give me, nothing. Now I’m done with her and thank God_ - my luck. But yous daughter, Thawn— “No, no! The idea is monstrous!” Thawn said it with a flare of his old-time spirit. But, even as he said it he was sur- prised at the insincerity of his voice. A month ago he would have meant it, -with all his heart and soul. A month ago he would have broken with La Salle at a hint of such a thing. But in that last month he had gone deep into despair. Bankruptcy and an old age of bitter dependence on charity had stared him, eye to eye. He felt old, too old to fight back. Even as he protested he knew a cowardly fear of angering La Salle. “Ts it monstrous? Indeed! Well—” La Salle shrugged. ‘‘ Of course, without your partnership, Pll have to alter my plans. But there are other propositions, plenty better than Thawn Manor—” “But Diana,” Thawn protested shakily. ‘¢ Shell never consent—” ‘¢ She will consent.”’ ‘““No—no, La Salle. I tell you, never— No, my friend, she won’t do it— a“ And I say she will—” “Why not ask her?” Diana’s coot inquiry brought both men to their feet. She crossed the room toward them, a pale, statuesque figure. “Yes, why not ask her?” she repeated and her dark-blue eyes met La Salle’s with- out flinching. ‘‘ You know,” she continued, “if you insist on discussing these things with the doors open you can’t blame me for overhearing you. I don’t think I missed. any of the details of Mr. La Salle’s unusual proposal. Since it concerns me, I tried to hear it all—" cComiclbooks.com