Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

170 The spoon remained poised. It was a mat- ter of a second, two seconds, before she lifted her head. She looked into the face of Martin Hewes, who stood well within the doorway. He was motionless, silent, watching her, his arms hanging at his sides. The eyes of Amy were fixed upon him. In them pleasure struggled with a vague and growing alarm. These things Rhoda saw at one sweep- ing glance. The situation itself did not terrify her. She had discounted such an accident long before, and she was prepared to explain the blue box. But this was not the Martin Hewes whom she knew. Under the brown of his skin blood suffused the capillaries. His eyes were opalescent, like the eyes of an enraged dog. Yet he stood immovable. _ “JT wanted to see—how she was,’ he said thickly. ‘So I left the work.” Rhoda was astonished. He spoke like a hired man explaining to his employer. But her terror.of him was in no way dimin- ished. She shivered. “Martin!” in a half whisper. frightened me—I—”’ ‘As a dam breaks, so his restraint gave way. A single movement and he stood in front of her, very close. ‘“What’s in that box?” his voice filled the room. , ‘““Medicine!”’ It was a mechanical word, jarred out of her. ‘‘ The doctor—he gave it—he—” “You murderer!” | “You lie!” she sereamed. She could The sound of “You * he released her. THE ARGOSY. — not move, nor shape her thoughts coherent- ly. “I didn’t! It’s medicine—” He picked up the glass and lifted it to- ward his mouth. Not until she saw the milk white against his lips did she act— then her fingers wrenched it from his grasp. “YT knew it!” he thundered. “ Murder was in your face when I stepped MeL est that doorway!” His form seemed to expand to gigantic proportions. His big hands reached out and clutched her by the wrist, swung her into the air as no other man in that town could have done, and pinned her against the wall high from the floor. Her arms flung out, and for an instant lay as though she had been crucified. Fhe blue box thumped into a corner, spilling white powder. She saw death in his face, and the fear of death was upon her. in her ribs. last moment. - “Martin!” she whimpered. “I was afraid—you’d fall in love with her!”’ As quickly as Martin Hewes had struck She chung to a window casing for support, dazed. She saw his face change. The knotted forehead smoothed and blood came back to his lips as they relaxed. He laughed. But to her ears his laughter was no less terrible than his wrath. ‘““T do love her,” he said, “ but I didn’t know it until she got sick that day at the table. Before that J thought F was in love with youl” She knew the agony of her THE SECRET SHAME myself that I cannot A simple secret keep. Last night I walked the garden plot Because I could not sleep; And there beside the listening rose I spoke my heart aloud— The rose this morning redder glows, With conscious blushes bewed; Oh, I shall pluck thee, traitor rose, And shut thee in my book; Thy breathing doth my heart disclose; And thy too conscious look! Alwin West. NOOK His hands crushed © C@