Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

BING, BANG, BOOM! was «literally crawling with rodents and vermin. But these matters could easily be remedied. The decorations had been at one tinie more than ordinarily attractive, and could be restored’ at no prohibitive expense. There were seventy-five large bedrooms, and a score of other rooms that would ap- peal to the pleasure seeking vacationist: dining, billiard, card, ball, music—every sort of room that might be desired was there, though, it was true, they had been stripped of their furniture until none but the law itself would call them furnished. And now he must find a solution to the problem: to waken the Majestic from its death-like sleep. For, in the sudden flood of his optimism, he began to believe that his task was not hopeless; that the Majestic was.only asleep—like the fabled beauty whose enchanted slumber could be broken only by the kiss of a dauntless prince. He could already see the Majestic, under his management, re-established in all its pristine glory. He saw it ablaze with lights, the long loggia crowded with laughing, chattering men and women; the orchestra in the -ballroorm sending out to them its _ pulse-quickening music; the line of luxu- rious automobiles, bearing the license tags of every State in the Union, rolling up to the porte-cochére and away. He was absorbed in ,such stimulating thoughts as these as hie climbed into his buggy and drove slowly homeward. Once - again in the cool stillness of the shady lane, he abandoned himself wholly to them, giv- ing the reins to his horse and reclining in his seat until the greeny canopy above him became the curtain of his dreams. So wrapped up was he in his eager plan- nings that he did not hear the dust-muffled ‘sound of an approaching vehicle; and not until his horse came to a sudden halt, did he bring his gaze down from above to find himself looking straight into a pair of brown eyes that met his with a flash of intolerant impatience. He straightened himself quickly in his seat, a flush mount- ing to his face. The girl was sitting alone in a® buggy similar to Bert’s, and he was separated ‘unusual displeasure. 525 from her by the length of his horse and hers, which were standing nose to nose. For a moment surprise robbed him of his manners, and he stared at her; and in that moment he noted that she was young, breath-takingly pretty—and greatly dis- pleased with the present state of affairs. The roadway at this point of meeting was only wide enough to admit the passage of a single vehicle. ‘““‘Why—why, I didn’t hear you coming,” Bert stammered, finding his voice. “ Ex- cuse me.” For a moment the girl made no renly, meeting his gaze with a look of such chill- ing hauteur that the smile which Bert had managed to summon to his lips faded quickly away. ‘“‘ I—I_ was so busy with my thoughts,” he added apologetically, wondering at her rT I’m sorry.” The girl sat very straight and still— and yet gracefully, Bert thought; as un- bending in posture as she was in manner. At Bert’s words, her full red lips curled a trifle—an expression of contempt that she explained when she sai®: | ‘““T suppose you were busy thinking how nice it would be if there were a few bar- rooms around here.”’ Bert flushed again, this time to the very , roots of his black hair. ““T suppose you know,” he returned, his eyes flashing angrily, “that you are very rude.” Fhe girl shrugged her dainty shoulders. ‘Toward some. persons,’”’ she retorted quickly, “‘ rudeness is permissible. I’d like very much to pass,” she added. “So would I,” said Bert. ° “A short distance behind you the road is widened for the purpose. You should have waited for me.” “‘ There must be a sme place the way you came,” he replied. ‘‘ You might have waited for me.” ‘I should have,” she said coldly, “ if I had known that it wasn’t a gentleman who was coming toward me.” It is well-nigh impossible for a young man to be wilfully unpleasant toward a girl, however unfriendly her attitude or how inexplicably contemptuous her speech; Original from Rie} lOOOLKK CO