Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. and I saw Mr. Nichols fall and that young fellow shooting wild! I—I made him drop his gun and then he went all to pieces and Mr. ‘Howe and I got him off to that place you call Pink-Eye Mike’s just before the police came. I never in the world would have left Mr. Nichols hurt like that, only Mr. Howe showed me that he would want us to finish his work for him!”’ Ethel paused and then added: “ Isn’t it fine that Mr. Monckton’s girl didn’t go back on him, after all? Did you see the papers yesterday? I told him so when I saw him in the Tombs, but that was only to make him feel better; I didn’t really believe she’d stick, though I hoped so!” The Shadowers exchanged _ relieved glances, and then George Roper asked: “Wouldn’t you stick yourself, Ethel? By the way, how is that angelic dog you brought here when you first came back to us three weeks ago?”’ ‘““T gave him away to somebody who don’t know his disposition!” Ethel saw that the six pair of eyes were upon her and flushed more deeply than ever as she glanced down at her waist, no longer adorned with its accustomed corsage bou- quet. ‘Miss Norcross was jn love with Mr. Monckton, I guess, even if she couldn’t THE Le} Lo) 927 quite believe at first that he was innocent, but this love business is a lot of bunk, any- way! It’s catching, but half the time people don’t know whether they’ve got it or not!” Phil roared and even George chuckled, but Rex Powell said very seriously: ‘They are both very grateful to you, Ethel. We’ve received from Mr. Monckton the largest check of our career as the Shadowers, but see what he and Miss Nor- cross have sent you together!” He opened the jewel case and displayed a single string of pearls, small but perfectly matched and of an exquisitely . glowing luster. Ethel gave a little gasp of pure delight and clasped them about her throat. Then the whimsical little smile they knew so well came over her face and she exclaimed: “It’s wonderful of them, but I couldn’t have put them on last week, not with the other reward I got for finding Bessie!” “What do you mean?” Rex demanded. ‘“* Mumps!”’ Ethel made a little grimace. ‘I caught them from her, and I wouldn’t let you know for fear you’d laugh! But all of us together made the greatest catch of the Shadowers yet, didn't we, when we found the murderer of De _ Puyster Monckton?”’ END Le) Le) CHANGE THAT RECORD! F a “ silver-haired ’’ mother the ballads all rave, With her ‘ dear toil-worn hands,” and one foot in the grave. I’m sure, with a parent like that, I would smother, I greatly prefer my own dear modern mother. b} Her ‘“ form ’ is not ‘ bent,” nor her face ‘ lined with care,” And she wears no gray bonnet on her pretty hair. Her clothes are perfection; her figure’s divine, As for her complexion, it’s better than mine. Her mind is not centered on thoughts of “‘ the grave,” She is far more concerned with her permanent wave. And oh, but I’m glad that she’s not like that other—- My gay little, chic little, up-to-date mother! Vivien Chandler, EO DOO (©