Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

98 A vague sense of alarm disturbed Trem- lett’s satisfaction. “‘ Here, my girl, there’s a shilling for you. Get Mrs. Marshall to answer you, and tell her a gentleman has called to see her on business—about a situation, you under- stand.” Rose smiled radiantly. ‘“‘ Indeed, sir, I thank you, and it "Il be good news to Mrs. Marshall. The feet of her is worn off looking for work. What name shall I say?” “Tt doesn’t matter about the name,” Tremlett replied bruskly. wait?” Rose opened the door of a tiny parlor at the back. ‘“‘I’m afraid we’re rather full up, sir. This is Mrs. Kidder’s private room, but she won’t mind if I show you in here.” A fever of anxiety was on Tremlett now. His pulse beat unsteadily. She was here under this very roof, and it seemed as if he had but to reach out his hand to take her—yet who could tell that she might not manage to escape him again? If only by hook or crook he could get her back to Witcham in his own house, it would be easier to wear down that baffling resistance which had all but beaten him. Strange that one so weak could give him so much trou- ble. The morning had begun with sunshine, but suddenly the skies clouded over and it began to rain. After the heat the pave- ments fairly steamed and the air was sullen and vaporous. Mrs. Kidder’s little parlor was crowded with furniture and knick-knacks—the keep- sakes of a lifetime all hoarded together in a space of twelve by nine—and the one window overlooked a dismal sooty stretch of what by courtesy might be called a garden. Was it possible that Amy could prefer such a spot to the magnificent home he was only too anxious to offer her? Half an hour passed, and Tremlett’s ner- vousness increased. Could she have sus- pected his identity? Perhaps she had ques- tioned the servant as to the appearance of the “ gentleman ” who had taken the trou- ble to look her up. The door was slightly ajar, and as he “Where can I ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. heard some one descending the stairs he rushed out to determine that if it were Amy he would allow her no chance to get by. The girl coming down halted and gave a low cry. One hand gripped the banister hard, while the other flew to her lips in a gesture of dismay. “You!” she exclaimed in a hoarse little voice that scarcely seemed to be Amy Mar- shall’s. CHAPTER XX. WHERE TRAILS-CROSS. slept in those few hours before the dawn. She had slept soundly for the first time in many months, for it seemed to her that the shadow of a terrible tempt- tation ~-had been removed forever. The temptation would mean nothing to Amy, yet Loraine knew that she should have warned that confiding child who had stepped into her shoes. Indeed, she had meant to do so, but Amy’s entire innocence had shamed her. How could she say, “ Don’t be tempted to touch drugs, particularly cocain!” It was the one attribute of herself that she had not left with Amy, but brought with her—the little box with enough of the white powder left to help her over this last ordeal. In such new surroundings as Witcham, with no pain to conquer and the excitement of having plenty of money to spend without earning it, Loraine Drew was confident that she could shake off the dead- ly habit. | So she slept, and so soundly that Rose had difficulty in awakening her. “ All right,” she yawned. “I'll be down as soon as I’m dressed.” “The gentleman’s waiting in Mrs. Kid- der’s parlor,” said Rose, surprised that Mrs. Marshall betrayed no curiosity about him. “*T’m afraid your tea and the water will be cold.” .“ Never mind,” Loraine replied, giving Rose the benefit of a full-face smile. It was a good test, but Rose suspected nothing. However, the real test would come when she met this Peter Tremlett. UNS Amy, Loraine Drew had comicloool C©