Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

~ MARRIED AND The secretary returned with a smile, and Brad’s heart leaped with pleasant antici- pations. “Mr. Marcy will be glad to see you to-morrow morning, Mr. Harper. He re- grets that he is busy every minute of to- day.” Brad lingered desperately. ‘It’s very important that I see him to-day. Very im- portant—-to me—” “That is quite out of the question. To- morrow morning.” Brad knew when he was beaten. He went away consoling himself that, at least, Colonel Connaught’s name had worked the magic he expected of it. Marcy had been impressed; Marcy would see him in the morning; undoubtedly Marcy would offer him something good. And meantine—well, the bags and the money might even now be awaiting him at police headquarters! Brad’s report to Alicia was colored in this optimistic vein. They took stock of their resources. With what was in Alicia’s little purse and the odd change in Brad’s pocket they had three dollars. “Tf I had anything to pawn now,” Brad told her. ‘“ A fine gold watch, or something —only I haven’t. And I don’t know any place to borrow, either—except Mr. Mar- cy. Of course he’ll fix it all up, as soon as I can explain to him—”’ “JT haven’t even any relatives to wire to,” Alicia replied. “1’m glad of it,” Brad said stoutly. “I don’t like borrowing money from anybody. Anyway, we’ve got each other—and we'll make out. Why, by to-night I’ll bet that taxi driver will have turned in our bags. Meantime—” “Meantime,” Alicia chimed in, “ we'll be very careful—”’ “But not too careful,’ Brad grinned. “We'll have lunch. It’s our wedding day, isn’t it?” Careful as they were, lunch cost one dol- lar and ten cents. “J could look for a job this afternoon,” Alicia remarked, surveying the: remainder of their fortune. “ Never, on your wedding day!” said her husband. ‘“ We'll see the big town, Alicia. Walking can’t cost us anything.” BROKE. 633 Alicia demurred. “ It seems a risk, Brad. Maybe we’d both better look for jobs right now. If—if the bags—” Alicia saw the stubborn set to her hus- band’s jaw. For the first time in her life she knew married responsibilities. Evi- dently. there were times when Brad must_ be humored, and this was one. “Very well, dear,” she said, and tucked her hand under his arm. They walked and saw the wonders of the great city. They saw skyscrapers, canon- like streets, the harbor, and the shipping, the bridges, and the marvelous skyline of Manhattan; they saw quaint old houses, relics of village days; the crowded tene- ment districts, their narrow streets blocked with pushcarts where humanity swarmed and haggled and quarreled and laughed and made love without shame; they saw the marvels of shop windows, and the humors of Greenwich Village dens. And always Alicia saw the most wonderful sight of all— Brad, her new husband, beside her; and Brad saw Alicia. It was a wonderful honey- moon. They grew desperately tired, and rested on .a bench in a public square, and dis- covered ‘they were frightfully hungry. They dined in the most inexpensive-looking place, and a dollar and a half more of their total fortune vanished. Alicia looked at the pitiful remnant of change. “Oh, Brad,” she cried, “ we shouldn’t have been so extravagant. We both should have looked for work to-day—” Alicia,” said Brad, “ if a man can’t be extravagant on his wedding day, he’s a born tightwad. I’m glad we wasted our time. And anyhow, the bags are sure to be re- turned to police headquarters by now. Come on, we’ve got subway fare left.’ The bags had not been returned. Brad and Alicia went» forth and found a small East Side park, and sat on a bench until late. They returned to Center Street and inquired again. The bags had not been found. In the street Alicia clung desperately to her husband’s arm. ‘ What shall we do? We won’t have a roof over our heads! ‘Oh, Brad—” Go oOLOKS (E@)