Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

HIS THIRD MASTER. **'No matter what he thinks,” said Mrs. Rainey. ‘“ He thinks too much, anyway.” “But is it a sort of—bargain?”’ ‘Not a word has passed that makes a contract, Cynthia. Do you think I’m fool enough for that? Not a bit of it! Nothing but hints.” She chuckled. ‘ Oh, he’s a wise young fox, but he isn’t done with me yet!” “It’s like—tricking him, isn’t it?” ‘Listen to me, Cynthia,” said her mother, staring at the girl in alarm, ‘‘ are you go- ing to begin by pitying him?” “T only meant—” ‘“‘ Because if you do, that’s the end of it. In three days he’ll have you head over heels in love with him. Honey, thinking isn’t your forte. Let me do your thinking for you.” “But how am I to act toward him?” “Do your level best to be pleasant, Cyn- thia, but keep your hand on the reins. It isn’t going to be hard to be pleasant to him. It’s going to be a lot harder not to be too pleasant. And, mark my word, my dear, if he once gets started with you he’ll take the bit between his teeth and run away with you.” “ Oh!” said Cynthia. ‘“‘ Now go to sleep.” “ After this? I couldn’t dream of it!” “ Vou will, though. Don’t budge out of bed for two hours at least. Short hours of sleep are what take the bloom, Cynthia. I know.” ° And Cynthia submitted without a word while her mother drew the shades and dark- ened the room. Going out she leaned over the bed and kissed the brow of her daughter. She her- self had been very lovely in her girlhood, and when she looked at the white, beautiful face among the shadows on the pillow it gave her a little pang of sad happiness. “Go to sleep, honey, and if you dream, dream about what you’ll see at Mrs. Little- ton’s country place. You'll have the finest young men in the land to pick from, honey, and the hard thing will only be to pick the right one and the best of the lot.” ‘But it mustn’t be Dickon Greene,” mur- mured Cynthia, to get that point firmly fixed in her mind. 903 “Certainly not, goose. Not that he wouldn’t give you a brilliant future, his brains and your money, Cynthia. But you don’t have to stop at him. As your father says: ‘ The sky’s the limit for you now!’ ” She was still chuckling when she closed the door behind her. In the hall she found William Rainey pacing moodily up and down. ‘‘'What’s wrong?”’ frowned Mrs. Rainey. “Hasn’t enough happened to make you smile?” ‘‘ Louise,” said her husband sternly, ‘“‘d@’you ever think that we’re almost trick- sters, one way of thinking?” “William, yow’re plain foolish to-day.” “ And breaking our hearts to marry Cyn- thia off to some wooden head with an old name!” “ What do you want?” “ T’ll tell you what: I want some young fellow with good wide shoulders and a fight- ing jaw—like that fellow Greene. That’s a man’s face for you!” * You, too!” said Mrs. Rainey. “ That youngster is positively dangerous!” Which proved that she had come through slightly different channels to the point of view which Mrs. Littleton already held. CHAPTER XXX, THE ORDER OF BATTLE. T needed only the simplest mathematics | to teach Dickon and William North that almost the last throw of the dice was the house party at Mrs. Littleton’s. Even for the equipment for that last effort their means hardly sufficed. It was known that there would very prob- ably be a hunt while they were in the country, and it was above all things neces- sary that Dickon provide himself with a hunting outfit. For two whole days William North hunted; and on the end of the sec- ond day he came home despairing; but on the third day he found what he wanted— a suit at practically half price. To the pur- chase of that the bulk of their money went. “ But ”’—as William North said just be- fore he started toward the train to go to the comicloool C©