Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

» looked at him—shrugged. es,’ she admitted, yielding. ‘I told I was so full of it I had to tell some 2! I was burning up inside! But he idnt do it! Don’t waste your time ounding /iim! Better question Mable!” _ “You don’t like Mable, do you?” said Silvers. Joan smiled. «Not much,” she answered coolly. “I guess I envy her. You see, / can't figure things out in my head—things that would be best for me, and then go ahead and do them—no matter who is hurt by them—no matter what damage they cause. Mable can! She can shut her eyes to everything but Mable’s best interests. She hasn't a real feeling or a real emotion in her. I'm different. But I’m no fool. I see how much further Mable gets with her system. And I envy her because I can’t kill the heart in me and play the game the way she does.” * And you think Mable may know some- thing about this?” “She might. It seems more likely than that Moffat would do it—just to avenge me. You see, he doesn’t love me. Were just pals!” “ But—you are disposed to protect him, aren’t you?” “Ves. The maternal instinct in me— damn it!” Garry smiled. “ Well, there can be no harm in my hav- ing a little talk with him, can there?” | “ No-o—only that he’s—I mean it's a shame to subject him to this sort of inqui- sition. He won’t stand it the way I have! He’s got nerves!” _-- “ J"1) be easy on him,” promised Garry. And turning to Silvers, he added: “ Will vou go and ask him to come up? Say Miss ants him!”’ Let me go!” cried the girl anxiously. please. Wou see, for the sake of matter up quickly, we must elv impossible for you to ise him. It’s for his own ish his innocence: ” ~ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘‘T hate to think of to-Morrow—and the to-morrows to come,” she said sowly, without /1m in them—or any hope of his coming back. They are going to be so- empty! They were empty enough before he turned up—but I did not know then how wonderful days and nights could be. You see, I had never really cared for any one before — tisis way! But now —I &now- : going to endure them.” “But he was so unworthy,” said Garry. “Yes, I know. But—that doesn’t make it any easier. I tried to think of that when he left me. It didn’t help. You don't care whether they are worthy or not when you feel this way. It’s a curse! I wish to God it were J lying there now—dead—and he were here alive and well in my place! It’s easier to die than to live. It’s over quicker.” Garry said nothing. He was thinking of Katherine — and wondering if Guy had meant anything like this to her wondering what there had been in the man to inspire such devotion. And his heart ached for her—laughing and dancing, down below, as though nothing had happened. In the silence, lengthening between them, Silvers threw open the door and ushered Fielding in. He was a young man, very handsome. That is, his features were finely modeled almost too finely: his hair was very fair, and brushed until it shone; his mouth sulked; his lashes were quite long and sur- prisingly dark in comparison with his fair hair. Handsome, he was— but weak-look- ing. And now he looked quite nervous and helpless as his eyes wandered from Garry to Joan. “ Aofie!” cried the girl impulsively, re- sponding to his look of anxious entreaty’. But Garry cut in. “ Fielding.” he said sternly, “ I regret to inform you that a man has been murdere in this room to-night, and we sent for you-~” — He got no further. -\gain Fielding s eyes flashed from Joan to the covered body on the floor, and his face growing pale as e comicbooks.com