Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

THE WEST I have not been myself since I first looked into your eyes last night. Yes, it must have been Fate that brought us together, because, before you entered my life, [ never even looked at a woman. I wish I could believe all the things you said to me out on the balcony. I will believe them if you will come up to West Point to see me next Saturday. Will you? An interruption. Bill was growling about something. Jack looked up. His eyes met those of his roommate ouiltily. “T’ve been talking to you for the last ten minutes,” grumbled Bill. “That must be a mighty important let- ter you’re writing.” Jack flushed. Bill went on: “You haven’t seen a little piece of paper around here, have you?” Jack started to ask what kind of paper, and then he remembered the scrap that fell from Bill’s cap earlier in the morning. “1 think there’s a piece on the floor over here. Maybe that’s what you want.” Bill walked over and picked it up. ‘Have you seen what is on this he demanded suspiciously of Jack. Jack thought quickly. Should he admit having seen the address on the paper? ‘Io do so would cause Bill to lose face. For what right had he to be in possession of a lady’s address? And again, Bill might get mad and say something unpleasant. The good- natured Red disliked family quarrels. “NG, he hed. Bill seemed to be relfeved, and re- turned to his desk. The room was silent, save for the scratching of the two pens. . Bill’s letter was much less romantic than Red’s. It ran: West Point, N. Y., Nov. 30, 19—. DrarR Marcy: Concerning the matter we discussed last Saturday night out on the balcony: 299 POINT ROMEOS. 267 Yes, I would be glad to have you come up to see me this coming Saturday. It is unusual for me to drag any girl, but you are different from the rest. Please let me know if you will come. As ever, Bit, FENTON. Both men finished their letters at about the same time. Then came the business of addressing and stamping envelopes. They were through. They looked up. Their eyes met across the tables. No more letters were written that day. And, for the first time since they had known each other, “ Damon and Pythias ” spent the Sunday not in each other’s company. VII. THE academic week followed. Days of study, classes, and drill. Bill and Jack attended boxing prac- tice in the gymnasium regularly. But they avoided bouts with each other. The academy noticed and marveled. The cadets sought a reason. Appar- ently there was none to be had. No one dreamed to put the cause at. Margy’s door. The idea that Bill and Jack would fall out because of a wom- an was unthinkable. And yet the two roommates were twitted about their escapade at the hop. The corps took it as a huge joke, and saw nothing serious behind it. Relations in the Fenton-Delany “house” on the second floor of the Fifteenth Division of Barracks were becoming strained indeed. The roommates had lost that atmos- phere of confidence that had once ex- isted between them. They got so that they hesitated even to speak to each other. Jack’s heart was wrung. He loved Bill, loved him more than he would a brother. Bill suffered, too. He missed Jack’s cheerfulness, his good-natured fellow- ship. - Gomichbook (E©)