Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

GENTLEMEN “ Hodges!” He looked puzzled. “ But surely you know ”’—she was in- credulous—‘ the financier; the biggest oil- cloth manufacturer in the country.” He was singularly unimpressed. * Oilcloth!”’ he echoed. “ And such a nice looking boy. Tat was why I thought I ought to let him come here. A young man of his charm—alone in New York—well, you know how exposed he would naturally be to all sorts of tempta- tions. I thought if he could have a congenial home atmosphere it would be a—a sort of sanctuary for him.” She appealed to her listener for approval. ‘“ Then I couldn’t help but think of you—what a good influ- ence you would be for him.” Swift was not entirely impervious to the subtle compliment, as his thoughtful frown proved. Still, he was conscious of a latent antagonism toward one whose greatest dan- ger lay in his irresistible attraction for the fair sex. “Of course, I shall codperate with you ain every possible way,” he said portentously. ‘“T hope he appreciates your taking him in like this.”’ “ Oh, he does!” she assured him brightly. “And I knew I could depend upon you— that you would understand my motive.” He went out in that pleasant glow, and, as he opened the front door, collided with a well tailored figure on the threshold. There were mumbled apologies while the two measured each other with covert distrust. Then the studious Philip Swift took his brief case and his horn-rimmed glasses out into the night, and the debonair Carl Howe made swiftly for Mrs. Ladd’s sitting room. She had gone back to her desk and the little budget book in which she planned to column and compute her records, but she welcomed him with equal cordiality. ‘| hope I’m not bothering you. I’m just in from dinner. I want to give you this on my room.” She took the proffered bills— three ones, they were. “ That leaves me owing you two. You see, the expense of getting up here and all that left me pretty well strapped, but I'll square things next week. There’s nothing like keeping your accounts correct in a business like this.” His manner was resolute, and Amalie ONLY. 671 nodded her entire concurrence and smiling- ly commended the exemplary impulse. “Are you getting your room settled? You must let me know if you need any- thing. I want you to be comfortable.” “Oh, but 1 am,” he said abstractedly; and then: “I just ran into a chap going out. Glasses—brief bag. I wondered—” “Why, that was Mr. Swift—my other lodger. I had just been telling him about you. He’s on his way to a lecture.” ** Lecture!” “On ‘ Realism versus Romance ’—in lit- erature, you know. He’s studying to be a writer. He’s a nice young man and—” ‘““ Looks nice,” agreed Carl, and laughed shortly—‘“ nice and ladylike.” “But he’s really not,” she took up the cudgels for the absent one. “ He’s quite manly, but very serious—and shy, too, I’m afraid.” “He doesn’t look much like a paying proposition,” he observed. “I suppose, when he came, he gave you references—all that.” “Oh, yes. He makes quite a nice salary, I understand—in a publishing house.” “You got his rent in advance, I hope.” Yes, indeed,” she assured him happily, ‘““and I’m sure you’re going to like him. I hope so. I do so want you to be good friends, and somehow I feel that you—you are so energetic, so—so buoyant—lI feel you will be a good influence for him.” He adjusted his tie with a sort of rueful indulgence. ‘Well, of course, I shall do my best— since he’s here—and since you ask it,” he promised magnanimously. Amalie went contentedly back to her budget book, only to be lured away a little later by the returning Philip Swift. ‘“T hope you enjoyed your lecture,” she said warmly. ‘“‘T did,” he admitted; but the eyes be- hind his thick glasses were: anxious. ‘‘ On my way out I ran into a young fellow— tall, sort of flashily dressed—”’ “That was Mr. Howe!” she told him gladly. ‘Howe! That’s his name, is it? your new roomer?” ‘‘ Lodger,” corrected Amalie gently. He’s oO ComicloookSse@