Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

‘else. SOMETIMES PRETENDING’S RISKY. eyes stared at him questioningly—plainly amazed to recognize Dick as the colorful cavalier. “My lady, the costume awaits you!” He swept her an elaborate bow and point- ed to the table. Anna thought he had lost his mind. “What’s the idea?” She broke into a smile. Her slender fingers touched the pile of silver-shot green silk that Dick pointed cut. ‘“ Did the customer I sent you in- vite you to the ball?” Anna’s eyes danced with mischief, as though she enjoyed some joke. Dick hasti- ly explained. He thought that she seemed hesitant, and tried to interrupt him, but he rattled on. “Ton’t be a goose! It’s a perfect cinch!” he assured her boastfully. ‘“ Be- hold the admission cards—worth ten bucks apiece! Some fairy’s waved a magic wand and this is our big night.” “But Dick, it would be silly to go—” “ Silly your aunt!” he laughed. “‘ Run on into the dressing room. That’s it, over there. When you come out, the manicure will. be a lady-fish!” “Vou’re a lunatic already!” she told him with conviction. But he would not be subdued. “Do you mean to say that you’re going to crab such a wonderful adventure? Why, Anna, the Social Register will be there in regiments! Haven’t you ever wished for a peep at one of these affairs. No one will guess who we are. I can swing the bluff. Sc can you. It’s easy. When you want to pretend, all you do is believe you are pretending.” “Oh, is it?’ Anna asked doubtfully. “ Just what’ll we pretend?” “ That we’re not ourselves, but some one That’s where the fun comes in. To- night, I’m not Dick Bolton. I’m the Hon. Archie Trevington. And youre not a ‘manicure. You’re a débutante.” “Tm just plain ninny if I agree!” Anna still shook her head. “Oh, darn it all!” protested Dick. “Have you no imagination? Don’t you ever long for romance? Come on! Be a sport. Get the cote’ on. Ti pune . for a taxi.’ ss 915 Anna stood looking at him doubtfully; a curious, wistful expression on her pretty features. : It was plain that she did not approve— that it was on the tip of her tongue to try to reason with him. And yet a certain sympathy—a motherly understanding— made her change her mind. “All right,” she said, “I’m willing to eo" ‘ Willing?” he broke in indignantly. “I should think you’d be delighted. Thou- sands of girls in this old town would give anything to be there.” ‘‘ Possibly,” said Anna. “ But, Dick, you’ve got to promise me—if anything un- pleasant occurs—”’ “Stop glooming!” he interrupted. “ Put on your gladsome garments while I phone for a yellow coach. Four bits instead of four white mice will propel this chariot!” “Silly!” she smiled, and disappeared with the costume in her hands. Dick posed before the mirror, strutted about on his high heels, and bowed and scraped to his heart’s content, until she came back. He certainly hoped she would enter into the spirit of the thing. At least, Dick thought, she looked the part when she stepped from the little booth. He gasped at the vision of loveli- ness standing there before him. She had been pretty enough before. Now she was exquisite. A frail little slip of a mermaid, with a wealth of golden hair. What luck it was not bobbed! Her feet seemed even more tiny in those gleaming silver shoes. It was really a crime to hide her face with that silken mask. But her blue eyes beamed at him through its slits—with a mocking light in them. Her elfin manner was suggestive of some newborn mischief. ‘All right, let’s go,” she said, and her cheeks flushed beneath her mask. Anna saw Dick’s admiration and natur- ally it pleased her. With a little sigh, she began to wish they were what they were pretending—that she was a society bud and Dick a wealthy idler. But she did | not mean to jet him know the present trend of her thoughts. Anna hated bluff—as much as s she loved Dick. Eomic (EO) ~. 2OOKS So " ee