Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

292 does you. And I’m so much like Stephen— to an outsider’s eye.” Beatrice looked at the pair as they stood before her, and for a moment did not reply. They were both clad in blue serge, as on the first day that she saw them. Never, in form, features and dress, had they looked SO amazingly alike as they did at that mo- ment; and never, in the eyes of Beatrice, had they seemed so utterly, basically dif- ferent. “Yes,” she said slowly, her eyes a little hard, “ you are so amazingly similar that in a bad light I am never quite sure which of you is which—till you speak. What of that?” Richard smiled. “It might be rather embarrassing, . to strangers.” “Why?” flashed Be®rice. resented his apparent coolness. strangers to us?” ‘Nothing at all. But—you forget.” “What do I forget?” ‘“‘ Two tattooed snakes in the same house- hold,” said Richard. ‘‘ An impossible sit- uation, Betty. Now, or at any time. See what I mean?” There was moisture trembling on Bea- trice’s eyelashes. “Ts this what you came back to say to me?” she asked, holding her chin high. “‘T’d better not have come back at_.all,” replied Richard sadly. ‘I couldn’t help it, though.” She turned and walked slowly indoors, leaving the two men together. Stephen looked at his late partner grim- ly. ‘What bug’s in your head now, Dickie?” “One that’s been there all the time. I shal] never get rid of it.” ‘Come into the house. to you.” Richard shook his head. “Tt’s a house I can’t enter, Stephen. Besides, I’m scared of what you might say to me.” ‘“Vou’re afraid I’m going to offer you a share of half a million that’s mine. If you weren’t a—a fool, I could do it. I’m sug- gesting nothing of the kind. But—there’s work I want you to do, and you’re the only She bitterly *¢ What are I want to talk ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, man I know who can handle it. I’m a bungler at such things. You can’t let me down, Dickie.” ““Worke What work?” “See here,” said Stephen guilefully, “ Piers’s little old estate, Walton Knoll, is being made over to Betty. It’ssher proper- ty, tower and all. It’s worth mighty little, but if a good hustling land agent took charge and ran it Betty might have a nice little income out of it. She’s as pig-headed as you are—being a Marney. She won’t take anything from me. And then there’s the management of the Holt estates, too. I should make a mess of them. I’m a sea- man, not a business man. You've got to help us.” Richard regarded him affectionately and ‘smiled. ‘It won’t do, Stephen. There are two places on this earth I can’t stay in—Walton Knoll and the Holt. I couldn’t stand it.” He put his hand on his partner’s shoulder. “Don’t you see that I love your sister— that life doesn’t mean anything to me ex- cept Betty Marney?” “Then,” said Stephen under his breath, ‘“‘ why in the name of sense don’t you tell her so?” ‘“* Because it would be useless.”’ “And I tell you, you’re a fool.” ‘* It’s better to be a fool than—one or two other things. And even if by a miracle it weren’t useless, Stephen, it would be a crime. I’ve had enough of crime. You know what I am—so does she.” “Yes. You’re—” _ “ Richard Marney, a relative of the fam- ily. I’m sticking to the name, as it’s mine —hbut nothing else. I’m also the son of the man who drew Piers’s pay. I’m the im- postor who would have taken your place— and kept it. Don’t interrupt, Stephen. I’ve been whitewashed; the record’s buried, as far as strangers are concerned. But that doesn’t alter the thing,J am. And, as I live, Betty shall never have her name linked to anything like that. She deserves the best the world can offer. ‘“‘ And now I’m going down to the Wind- flower. I shall be away at least a year. I sail at the turn of the tide. Never mind where I’m going. You can come down and comicboooks C©