Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

FOR MAGGIE’S SAKE. which floated to Chauncey’s ears, thrusting mto his consciousness a host of thoughts and memories. At last the girl was in front of the veranda. Chauncey started from his seat, pulled his pipe out of his mouth, and gaped stupidly until she had vanished in the store across the street. Then he replaced the pipe between his teeth, sank back in his chair, and to all outward appearances dis- missed the matter from his mind. In a small mountain village like Pine few things pass unnoticed and unpublished. But any place, whether in Pine or in Chica- go, there are often long parts of a story which, if told, would only add to the length thereof, and being left out do not material- ly detract either from the detail or the interest of the subject. Suffice it then to say that Pine found itself in possession of - another permanent citizen in the person of Chauncey Wilkes. Aside from his first splurge of informa- tion delivered upon the day of his arrival, Chauncey failed to relieve himself of any further discourse concerning either his past achievements or his future purposes and ambitions. And as for what had been said—it wasn’t true, so it didn’t matter. Though he did make himself disagreeable at times by belaboring the town folk for their poor judgment as demonstrated by their living in Pine, and made himself par- ticularly obnoxious to Bill Howle, whom he nicknamed “ Scream,’’ on the whole he be- came more or less acceptable and was even liked by some. After a couple more moon- shine sprees he settled down to a fairly irreproachable existence. About the most unforgivable thing he did was to strike up a friendship with Mag- gie Bills. It was nearly a month after he had seen her from the hotel veranda before he availed himself of an opportunity to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance. Maggie having brought the folks together for a basket social, Chauncey spent a month’s wages outbidding young Howle for a chance at Maggie’s eatables. _ He and Maggie ate lunch together, and from that date forth were seen in each oth- er’s company all too frequently to satisfy the refined and delicate tastes of Pine’s 135 discriminating population, not to mention Bill Howle himself. Being a lover of amusement, and some- what of a schemer, Chauncey vied with the village schoolmistress in devising ways and means of excitement to keep the local citi- zenship in one continuous whirl of social pleasure. As a matter of fact, Chauncey was less of a fool and more of a gentleman than first appearances warranted. And after extending an acquaintance over a pro- longed period of association his bull neck and ugly scar lost their sinister aspect. He had had a high-school education and a year of college, and when he chose could con- verse with a less illiterate tongue than he was ordinarily in the habit of doing. Maggie seemed to find him quite en- joyable company; but Maggie never al- lowed anybody to approach very near her individual liberties, speaking from a matri- monial standpoint, and from all outward appearances Chauncey was no exception to this rule. The inhabitants began to lose their fears and settled down to the less disconcerting routine of existing without the enjoyment of scandal or weddings. That is, all but Bill Howle, who proceeded to thrust his attentions upon Maggie with more regular- ity and a sincerity that made her sit up and take notice. | Now, Bill was a fine young fellow, and Maggie felt under no particular obligations to disengage herself from the pleasure and wholesomeness of his company. il, CHAUNCEY took the forester’s examina- tion, and landed a job as ranger at Pine. For more than a year he divided his time between riding range, providing amusement for his neighbors at Pine, and cultivating Maggie’s friendship. One day as he was coming in from a prolonged trip on the range, riding along the river’s edge, who should he spy standing on a. rock in the middle of the stream but young Howle, at- tempting to entice some trout to notice his pretty spinner? “Hello.” Chauncey reined up and slipped over sidewise in his saddle. comicloool C©