Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

WILLIAM T RIES THE ROUGH ST UFF. liam stood helplessly by sehile. his tival did _ mysterious things with a wrench. : ‘Mr, Sprague rounded the corner, “the evening newspaper under his arm, and stopped. “ What’s the trouble?” he puffed. = : “everybody. knows. ing about- it—the way you’re etting that “ Engine’s: gone ‘e1azy, William EX plained vaguely. “ Evening, — Mr. Sprague.” Turkingtoti- raised a perspiring: countenance. little water in the carburetor, that’s all. Guess William. must. have been buying = -__ bragged, himself, to a certain jane about cheap gasoline.” “No such thing!” declared William: in- dignantly, “Don’t have to.” Then he caught. sight of Suzanne coming airily down the path, her white beaded bag in her hand, and over one arm 2 a Se edged for the ‘village gossips, too—time ‘Miss with white fur. to send ‘Hawkins down as soon as he gets” back from another call,” she announced. Turkington straightened up, brushed a— sandy Jock from his forehead with a smeary =a you not tol? = | _ “ Because. It’s nearly ti time for the show and—why Tom Turkington! Look at your nice white trousers! Both knees! And you ve > got a smear across your forehead— fe Mouiau: 3” ane Tak in == pleasine = lazy drawl, “ can’t. you see Im busy? You trot Tight in now and call up that garage, — and tell ’em the job’s finished, see? And, say—fish my handkerchief out of this back pocket for me, will you, Sue?” “Here’s your old handkerchief. ‘come on. William’s in no hurry. — wait until Hawkins arrives on the scene. eh Turkington dabbed at his forehead, wid- ening the area of the smudge, and bent over the engine again. _“ Come on, Turk! BE “Suzanne's yoice was pleading. = : “For cat’s sake, Suzanne, five a little “Now patience! — Vil have this boat running in five — believing his ears. — there! Turk. “Thanks one for == the car William caught up with— “minutes now.” Suzanne, with a tesigned Tittle sigh, turned toward the. house again. Vou see!” said Mr. Sprague succinctly in William’ 'S ear. x Suzanne just. as- she was: ascending the = - Steps. | == “Just a I= called. the “garage 2 and they” re going E to life. five minutes! 1” Turk sang out. found a mechanic? _ -T haven’t time. = remember, you. promised | to go to bed early. _— William and I are going to trip. the light. fantastic at the Outside Inn.” 7 silence. ‘Then, “Tike to. see a good show, Ss 573 = : StH | jumping through the hoops, T see,” 7 he “murmured. — “What do ‘you mean—hoops?”” Sante Z sat down in the swing and. eyed him coldly. -“T guess you know, all right. I guess The whole town’s talk- big stiff boss you around!” 7 SiS Really?” Suzanne’ 'S voice was. danger- ously sweet. = “Vou said itt Why -Turk’s even how he can just wrap you Hehe around his little. finger!” = “ He did no such thing? a “Did so!” lied William. “brazenly. Sk guess this won’t make a nice, juicy morsel layes spreads. it! She’s been sitting there on her porch taking it all in—the- = way yeu obey the master’s voice!” “ Anything else?” ‘The Sf0E of a =i = white ied slipper tapped the floor impa- hand, and stared. “ For the love of Pete, t Suzanne, what'd - you: do that: for? aE wid ‘Ye = : = Spake of the slave period— ow does it feel to sit around — the ¢ even- ing cond wait for a guy?” At that exact instant William’s s car came “ Told you: Yd have her going in He. throttled - the engine down to a soft, even purr and — came toward them, rubbing his hands with a piece of. waste. ‘Mr. Sprague. — In his" wake shambled “Thanks a lot, ” ‘murmured William un- a: enthusias tically. — € Don’t ton it, ad kid. Now, "Suzanne, ‘Tl get washed up—” He can =e Dad, ” said Suzanne sweetly, xe ae you telephone the garage and tell them. that we And -Turk’s good natured on faded, but he merely shrugged. “ You said it!” * burbled William Bertay © Some j jazz | band, down Well, so long, Mr. Sprague. S'long, for se ‘Turk watched them drive away | in aeons Ss m --comicboo €om_—