Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

50 you know—and I’m from Kentucky—and —well—you see how it is! I just. have to go!” She paused and pouted alluringly. “You love a good horse, now don’t you, captain?” ‘““T sure do,” he laughed. ‘“ I’m a Ken- tuckian myself—but I’m not captain,’ he hastened to explain. ‘“‘ Just lieutenant.” “ How stupid of the force!” she cried demurely. ‘ You ought to be a general at least—a_man with your intelligence!” They both laughed, but Ruth still watched with inward uneasiness as Lawton glanced every so often at the paper. She remembered what Foley had said about his being “‘ hard-boiled.” Kentucky and horses seemed a safe topic, so she flew back to solid ground. “When you see them pull on the bit and stretch out round the track—doesn’t it just thrill you to death!” she cried. Lawton grinned boyishly. “And then when the bell rings! the cheering crowds! Oh, Lord!” sighed, leaning back in his chair. “T tell you what to do,” Ruth suddenly propounded. ‘‘ Why don’t you go to the races yourself? Then you could easily for- get that I was supposed to be here!” And he “No.” He shook his head slowly. ‘“ I’d like to. Lord, how I’d like to! You see,” he confided, ‘“‘ I come from Danville. So I know just ‘how you feel.” “ Do you really!”’ Ruth exclaimed in un- feigned delight. “‘‘ Then you know the Ab- bots and the Martindales, I suppose. My home was in Lexington.” “ For the love of Pete!”” Lawton ejacu- lated. ‘ Sure, I know them all. I’m Fred Lawton.”’ Ruth thrust out a warm, impulsive hand. “ How heavenly!” she squealed. ‘“ I’m Ruth Chester—-the Doanes’ cousin.” Chattering and laughing and comparing motes, they talked on, while Lawton fell deeper and deeper under the spell. Suddenly Ruth asked, ‘ What is your verdict, officer?” ; “Well, I'll tell you,” ‘he answered de- liberately. ‘‘ Go on to your races. Heav- en knows I envy you, and we'll postpone the case until you come back.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘“ But, my very dear Mr. Lawton,” Ruth wailed, ‘“‘ you know I wouldn’t have one minute’s rest or peace or fun, with that thing hanging over my head. Now you, with all your persuasive influence ’—she looked him full in the face—‘ can fix it so that I don’t have to come back here at ‘all.”’ With sparkling eyes and beguiling lips this daughter of Eve waited. Lawton grinned sheepishly and fell. ‘“‘T suppose we Kentucky men are eter- nally handicapped,” he admitted. ‘‘ Our love for our blue-grass horses and women continually leads us astray.” | He tore the offending paper to shreds and dropped the scraps into the waste- basket. “You nice, nice thing!’”’ She smiled rap- turously. ‘I knew all along you were an officer and a gentleman.” “Tl have to fix it somehow with De- laney,” he declared. ‘‘ If we had more like him, though, we’d soon get rid of pests that break the parking laws.” ‘* Like me,” she added, gaily exuberant. “Yes, like you,” he retorted. “And now I'll tell you such a funny thing that happened to me lately. I had parked my car too long in one place ’way down-town in front of a store, and when I came out there was a hateful slip telling me to show up at court! What do you sup- pose I did?” Lawton shook his head. remotest idea,” he replied. ““T went straight to a telephone and called up the police. I told them I had left my car in front of the library and when I went to get it, it was gone, and I knew it had been stolen. I gave them the num- ber and a full description. Then I went, home. In less than an hour they called me up and said the car had been found and was safe and sound, and the thief had left it down-town and the traffic officer— Delaney, I suppose—had carded the wind- shield. They were terribly sorry I had been inconvenienced, they said, and could I go at once and claim it. I could and did!”’ Lawton grinned. ‘ Darn smart and ““T haven’t the clever—but don’t try it again, for I’m on- _—and I’d hate to have to arrest you.” cComiclbool C@