Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

712 On one of the cots the supposed old woman way lying asleep. She had an odd figure for an old woman, being broad yet flat in front, and with uncommonly big and shapely feet, Her decidedly masculine face was crimson with the heat, and her wig was awry. Through the open windows came the insistent noises of the neighborhood; the clangor of ill-tempered voices; the bang- ing of shunting freight cars; the rever- beration of trolley cars crossing the high level bridge. Underneath these custom- ary sounds there was another sound like some one idiotically drumming on an in- strument of three notes, and those out of tune, a feeble, insistent sound, more trying to the nerves than all the racket. It was this sound which awoke the sleep- er. She, or he, sat up in bed with a round oath in a barytone voice. ‘‘ Can’t I get a moment’s forgetfulness in this hell hole? What is that noise?” “Sh-h-h, dad!” said Celesta. hear you downstairs!” “TY ought to talk in a falsetto, eh?” “No, only lower your voice.” He snatched the wig off and flung it on the floor. ‘“ What do I have to wear this rig for anyhow? It’s degrading! I’m never allowed out of doors.” “But people come to the door,” said Celesta. ‘“ And sometimes you go to the window without thinking.” “What is ‘that infernal tinkling?” he cried. “Tt’s the Italian in the yard next door. All day he’s been trying to fix his street piano.” Roger fell back on the cot, almost weep- ing out of self-pity. ‘A few days more of this will. finish me! Nice position for a man like me!” “Hal said the only place we would be safe was among very poor people,” retorted Celesta patiently. ‘“ And we are safe here. They have never thought of lovking in such a place.” ‘““ Safe!” he muttered. “It’s just ex- changing one prison for another!” “ Hal can’t let you go out, because you can’t walk or talk like a woman. You are always pulling at an imaginary mustache.” “ They'll ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He was doing it now. “ Well, I wore it for twenty-five years,” he grumbled. “It’s only for a little while,” she went on soothingly. ‘‘ Just as soon as Hal finds work—” This roused him to a fresh access of rage. “Hal! Hal! Hal!” he snarled. “How sick I am of hearing that name! Who gave him the right to order my life? Lord! I’ve even got to sleep in the room with him! Got to lie here at night and watch his ugly face!” “That’s unjust!” said Celesta warmly. “That’s wrong of you! After all he has done! After the way he works for us!” “TI didn’t ask him to do anything for me!” “‘T have told you many times if anybody is to be blamed it must be me,” Celesta reminded him firmly, This silenced Roger for the moment. Relations between father and daughter had progressed a good deal. He had discovered that he could depend upon Celesta’s pa- tience, and it was an immense relief to give his ill temper a vent in her presence. however bad his temper, he could nat abuse her directly. There was a new look in Celesta’s face that suggested the effort and the danger of the last weeks had matured her. “There is something preying on your mind that I do not understand,” she said simply. ‘“ This is not a nice place, to be sure, but it must be hot everywhere now. And we're still free and together. I’m hap- pier here than I was in the convent. Why are you always saying that you reget that dreadful place we took you from? Surely you cannot mean that!” Roger looked at her, startled. So she was beginning to question his attitude, al- most to criticise him! He had always re- clined luxuriously on her admiration, and this gave him the feeling that his bed was being drawn from under him. She was be- ginning to think for herself; a detestable habit in a woman! “You must overlook your dad’s irrita- bility!” he said with something of a return of his old manner. “ It’s true I have things on my mind. Almost drives me to distrac- tion. As you know, f have a certain prop- Gomichbooks But — (C@