Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

308 love feast’s going to be a big thing for the town, anyway. Astonishing that a com- munity like this should have split up and ' spent so much energy cutting throats that might have been used in developing, isn’t it?” the host of the evening mused ami- ably. ‘“ There’s a big boom coming here- abouts!” Far away in the house the clock took to chiming again. The armor clattered faint- ly and stood erect. Mr. Thorndyke chuck- led again. ‘“‘Gad! That’s quite a get-up, isn’t it?” he said, and looked it over curiously as he swung his cutlas. ‘“ I didn’t know there was a thing like that in town. What is it? Papier-machée”’ ~ He drew the cutlas, too, and with the handle, which must have weighed two pounds, he rapped the helmet smartly, bringing forth an astonishingly sonorous clang! “Tron, eh?” he pursued. “ Well, upon my word! I—oh, see here! I’m sorry!” he cried suddenly, for the armored one’s ' knees gave way abruptly—seemed about to give altogether—straightened up again with a mighty, swaying effort! “I had no idea the thing would ring like that! I must have deafened you,,and—lI say, I’m most infernally sorry!” “Oh, that’s all right!” Thomas said blithely, as he caught the trembling mailed arm and steadied it. ‘“ He likes it. Sam’s a little bit green to the knight business, and he wants to get used to those things. - We’re just on our way to—” _ “© Well, before you go, come in here with me,” said the perturbed buccaneer. ““ Come!” “ “Come where?” escaped Thomas. “‘ My little private conservatory. That’s where I was headed, you know; that’s my one refuge on earth when I want a quiet hour or two,’”’ Thorndyke pursued, and laid a kindly and apologetic hand upon a shin- ing shoulder-plate. “I have a very special and attractive way—these days—of mak- ing amends for a fool trick like that, Mr. Whoever-you-are-in-there! . “The architect gave us about ten thou- sand feet of floor space in the cellar, and - prohibition isn’t due in this house for some- —— Digitized b) Go ogle y ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. thing like eighty years. of you.” ‘* Well, Sam and I were just—” ‘“‘Oh, postpone it, whatever it was!” Mr. Thorndyke laughed. ‘‘Come and have a cigar, at least.” ‘““We—can’t! We're sorry, but we can’t, really,” Thomas said, with a slight tightening in his throat. ‘ You're going to Come along, both ‘smoke—in there?” “Tt doesn’t injure the palms,” their own- er said blandly. ‘I know, but—I meant, you'll be in there for some time?” T homas persisted, and his smile was a queer thing to see. “‘ Oh, that’s it?’”’ the owner of the house laughed. “Yes, I shall be in there for some time; slip in whenever you're ready, gentlemen. I’m past this sustained gaiety thing, I’m afraid. | “You'll find me in the little conserva- tory for the next two hours at least. Noth- ing you—er-—care to come in for now?” he chuckled in conclusion. | “ Nothing!” Thomas lied thickly. Heavily, rather wearily, the buccaneer moved away, across the room and through the farther door, which he closed carefully after him. Thomas shook the swaying ar- mor lightly. “Are you all right, Mary?” he whis- pered. ‘Are you—speaking?”’ from the helmet. ‘“ I’m nearly deaf!” “I know. It—it was unfortunate,” Thomas muttered.: “ Unfortunate!” echoed the helmet, and seemed to gather force. Why did you let him do that?” ‘““ How—how could I know—”’ “You must have seen what he was go- ing to do!” Mary said warmly. “I'll never hear properly again! Well? Did he really go in there?” ‘He really did, Mary!” “Then how can we get my dress?” “We can’t!” “We'll have to! You'll have to!” Mary cried, and pushed up her visor with sudden energy. this!” rT Mary—” ‘Go in there and make him come out! came faintly ‘You, and you alone, got me into “It was beastly! © Original Ti KG 10) ia. 7 JOO S C@ THE OHIO STATE -RSTTY