Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

898 Tom were married, giving the village a change of subject. With the new car rattling bravely under its weight of trunks they started off to spend the first quarter of the honeymoon in Crystal Springs, quite the fashionable place to spend a honeymoon or any other holiday. At the close of a long day of dusty and somewhat wearisome travel they rolled into Crystal Springs and came to a squeaky halt before the Breevort. But both put the best foot foremost when they sallied into the cool marble interior and approached the desk. Suddenly a familiar voice reached their ears. They turned and saw Abner Hitch- cock sitting off at one side in a large easy chair, one of a circle of affluent looking men. A little back of Abner stood Lucy, waiting, apparently, until he had finished his discourse. Both were turned sufficient- ly away from the newcomers so that they had not seen them enter. Salviny clutched Tom’s arm and drew him behind a pillar. Their bellboy, noth- ing loath, paused to listen, too. From time to time Salviny peeked, taking in the full details of the new and snappy clothes that both Abner and Lucy wore. ‘Yes, that was right smart of a hail storm,” Abner was saying, “ but still and all I recollect one time down to Cotton Hol- low when we had a hail storm that I guess prob’ly was a mite harder than that one. You see, I took particular notice of it be- cause I had a flat roof on the ell to my house and the hail came down so thick and fast I begun to be afraid the weight of ice on the roof might cave it in so [ went up to a gable window to take a look at it. ‘“‘ But, shucks, I needn’t have worried be- cause there wa’n’t a particle of ice on it —no, it melted just as quick as it hit the roof because it was a-coming down so thick and hard onto the tin that the tin was hot with the friction and there was a stream of boiling water pouring off one corner of the roof. And then by and by the roof got so hot that the solder begun to run and first thing I knew the tin was all loose and the wind was blowing it off across the med- »ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ders and then I was afraid the house would get pretty wet inside. But no, it didn’t, on account of the hail getting so thick about then that the friction of the hailstones rub- bing together in the air just nacherly turned them stones into steam and it blew away like a cloud without wetting the house a particle. Yes, take it by and large, I sup- pose that hail storm was a leetle more severe than the one you speak of.” During the comment that followed this narrative Salviny caught at the bellboy’s arm. . ‘“Who’s that woman with Mr. Hitch- cock?”’ she demanded. ““ Her? Why, she’s his wife.” ‘“‘ Are they married?” “Married?” The bellboy regarded her with some suspicion. ‘“‘ Sure they’re mar- ried. Didn’t I see ’em get married right over here in Judge Bradstreet’s office?”’ Mr. Gilmore interposed. ‘‘ But what’s Mr. Hitchcock doing here, son?” He slipped the boy a quarter. “Why, he works here. You see, Mr: Samson had him come up here and see the boss and the boss hired him just to set around and tell his funny stories all day. Funny job, ain’t it? But he gets good pay for it, all right. He’s going to buy a car. And they’s a lot of people come here to listen to him and they write and tell their friends about him—especially the drum- mers—and the reporters come around and write up his stories and that gets the name of the hotel in all the papers. Say, do you know him?” Salviny rose and took her husband’s arm. “Come, Tom,” she said in a low but de- termined voice. He went, not unwillingly, and they passed out of the hotel, climbed into their car and rattled off down the street. In the hotel Lucy also laid a firm hand upon her husband’s arm. “ That will do now, Abner,” she said. ‘‘ Come on out. I want to show you the car we’re going to get.” Abner rose. “ All right, Lucy,” he re- plied, smiling tenderly upon her. ‘ What- ever you say goes. You’re manager from now on.” oO CoOMmiclbooks.€©