Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

634 “ Wait,” Brad bade her. ~ and ask a cop.” Such a story was not unknown to the police. Brad was told by a kindly faced ser- geant: “The matron can get your wife into one of the women’s aid homes, but naturally she can’t register you with her there. As for you, that quarter will pay for your bed all right, but it won’t be in any hotel where you can register your wife. Sorry to separate you folks, but I guess it’s the best you can do about it.” Brad carried the news to Alicia. “ Be brave, dear; it’s only for to-night. To-morrow, as soon as I see Marcy, and he knows I’m Colonel Connaught’s friend— Oh, Alicia!” He gathered his bride into his arms and held her thus silent, close, for a long time. “Tt’s only until to-morrow, Brad,” Alicia smiled wanly at last. “Only until to-morrow,” Brad echoed, grimly cheerful. “Ill land Marcy to- morrow.” “Tl go back IIT. Brap’s fingers polished a lonely nickel when he met Alicia as by previous ap- pointment in Madison Square early next morning. His first words were: “‘ Had your break- fast?” ‘ Had a wonderful breakfast—at the ho- tel. They give one to every woman who Stops there,” Alicia reported. And she looked it. Somehow, no matter how lonely or how fearful Alicia had been through the long night of her separation from Brad, she looked glowing and utterly delightful now. Brad beamed back on her. “I guess [ can blow myself to a cup of coffee, then. There’s a coffeepot lunch just across the street—”’ ' “} guess they wouldn’t mind if I sat and watched you drink it,” Alicia suggested shyly. She added: “Provided I can stand the sight of any more food.” “Now for Marcy and a job,” Brad an- nounced when he had downed the coffee. “And I begin looking for my own job,” Alicia announced, equally firm. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. - ‘“ Alicia, I don’t exactly like the idea—”’ ‘You'll have to like it, Brad: That was our last nickel you spent. And if our bags aren’t returned—” “There’s always sisted. “Tl look for a job,” said his practical wife. “I'll meet you in this same place at noon,” Brad was first on the appointed spot. Though he tried to grin widely when Alicia came into view, his face ached with the effort. ‘“ Marcy was called out of town this morning,” he reported. ‘‘ Had to cancel all appointments. But things aren’t so bad. His secretary’s taken a liking to me, and she gave me a private tip. He'll be in his office just after five to-day. Ill see him, or break my leg trying. Find a job, dear- est?” ; It was Alicia’s turn to beam cheerfully. “Well, not yet. But I’m bound to this afternoon. Do you mind spending noon just sitting here, Brad? I’m a little tired.” They spent noon on the bench—together, and forgetting their anxieties. “ T’ll walk down town to Center Street,” Brad said as they parted. ‘‘ Those bags ought to be back by this time. See you here at six o’clock, and—don’t worry, dear. I'll get an advance from Marcy. I'll make him give me one!” Alicia was first to reach the bench that evening. She sank into its hard, green embrace with a weary sigh and loosened the straps of her little pumps in order to let her aching feet rest. Alicia was defeated and terrified. She had walked miles, only to meet rebuffs and disappointments wherever she looked for work. She was not used to city ways, and the employment methods of large corpo- rations where a girl with slight knowledge of making change and a very skétchy ex- perience of everything else might hope for work. But before Brad came she used powder puff and rouge valiantly and hoped that the dark circles of weariness under her eyes would escape his observation. Marcy,” Brad in- Brad drooped noticeably. He was too COMIC OO KS (E©)