Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

260 wonder to me Mike ain’t run off with you before now.” Thus to the issue again. newed her protestations. “He couldn’t—he wouldn’t— Oh, Char- lie, it is all over between us!” It was out at last. Charlie looked at her in amazement. “ What!” he blurted. He knew that this was some kind of a lovers’ quarrel, and he felt that it must be adjusted somehow. He wrinkled his brow in thought. Charlie was to assume a new’rdle. He, who had by the severest renunciation given his consent to the wedding, now felt that it was his most ardent wish. Further- more, it devolved upon him to bring it about. He, who had been matrimony’s scoffer, became its proponent. ‘“‘What’s this?” he repeated. “ You ain’t broke off with Mikep”’ Iris nodded. “‘ Now, ain’t that too bad!” He frowned in perplexity. How to account for it? Mike was probably to blame. He’d settle with the young man—making Iris cry that way. Yes, he’d treat him like a Dutch uncle—the young scapegrace. Still, he felt there must be some extenuation. Charlie determined to get at the heart of it. “Look here, Iris—most men are fools when it comes to understandin’ women, and I don’t reckon Mike is no exception. Now, you haven’t got no brother or nothin’, so just let me play like ’m your brother—I always wanted a sister. If there’s any little thing Mike’s done to hurt your feelin’s, or if he needs to be set right about some- thing, you let me know, and I’ll tend to him.” There was a wealth of honest purpose in the proposal, and Iris looked at him with warming eyes, but she shook her head sadly. ‘“‘ He has not done anything, Charlie, and there isn’t anything you can do. It’s—it’s hopeless.”’ “As bad as that?” drawled Charlie. “Well, I ain’t inquisitive or nothin’, but if you could bring yourself to tell me I’d be proud to hear it. Because, as long as I’ve lived, I ain’t never seen or heard of nothin’ yet that was absolutely hopeless.” The girl re- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Tris looked up quickly and searched his face. “‘ For shame, Charlie. You are mak- ing fun.” “T ain’t no such!” Charlie protested stoutly. # You don’t think I’d be as mean as that, do you? But I am consumed with curiosity. What’s up betwixt you and Miker” “You will promise not to tell?” “Tell who? Him?” “‘ Him, most of all!’’ emphasized the girl. “Wal, I reckon I can keep one secret from him.” “‘ But you must promise,” insisted Iris. Charlie deliberately moistened a finger of his left hand and held it beside one of his right. ‘‘ This is wet and this is dry; cut my throat if I tell a lie,” said he gravely. Thus assured, Iris began her recital. She told Charlie the whole miserable tale. When she came to Oily Duke’s threats against her lover, Charlie said: ~ ‘“* Don’t worry none about what the snake says he’ll do. He talks too much, Iris. You needn’t never be very much exercised about a fellow that threatens all the time. That kind of guy uses up his strength talk- in’. It’s the man who holds his tongue and burns powder quick that’s dangerous. And as for Oily Duke, my guess is he’ll spend a heap o’ time lettin’ Mike alone from now on—me, too, if he’s wise,” he added with a scowl. But it was when Iris spoke of the worth- less oil stock which’ Duke had sold her lover, and declared her intention of paying back the money, that Charlie made his most emphatic protest. “‘ Now, Iris, you don’t want to do noth- in’ of the kind! Miké ain’t goin’ to hold that against you. Why, he wouldn’t hold it against you if it had been you that sold him the stock, instead of this off-color brother of yours. Men are like that about the women they love. They don’t never think about ’em in terms of money and business. A woman means home and rest and poetry to her lover. You can pay him back lovin’ him.” Iris looked at Charlie gratefully, but her eyes were full of trouble. ‘“ Don’t you see that I can’t marry him until I have reme- COMmiclboo SS C©