Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

THE DANCING DOLL. At least, that is what Tina told herself as she hastened through the streets, disre- garding the stares of the sidewalk drinkers and the calls of the overdressed mashers. By the time she had reached the news- paper office, the most important of the jour- nals opposed to Valdez’s crowd, she man- aged to get control of her feelings, dried her eyes, and asked for the editorial rooms in a matter-of-fact voice. There was no trouble in finding a re- porter to take her story. The sensational attack on the political boss would be front page stuff. Tina sat in a rickety chair by a littered desk, and while the presses pounded away downstairs and the smell of printer’s ink filled her nostrils and the click of typewriters sounded in her ears, she told George’s story to a yellow faced young man with a languid manner. As a matter of fact, the reporter was impressed. It was a big story, but it was part of his training not to show any ex- citement over big stories. ‘So Pedro Valdez tried to get gay with a married woman! And it was the lady’s husband that punched him in the face! That’s not the first time he’s been in a scrape, but he most always bulls his way through!” ‘“ He’s a beast,’ exclaimed Tina. like to dig my nails in his face!” ‘Many ladies think otherwise,” grinned the reporter. ‘‘ There will be plenty of them at his party to-night.” “ His party?” “Oh yes, in spite of his being punched in the face, I think the party will come off all right. He keeps open house at his big place in the hills. No end of pretty ladies will be there.” “ What sort of party will it be?” “ Rather wild! I’ve been to some of kis sprees.” “You? From an opposition paper?” “Oh, sometimes I work on one paper and sometimes on another. We reporters have no politics! Most any one can get in, the young sports and newspaper men because they can help on election day. And of course any girl who is not ugly is more than welcome.” “ Gee, I’d like to see that kind of.a blow- ce I’d 61 out!” exclaimed Tina suddenly. “TI feel like taking a chance to-night. You know what I mean? I’ve got that don’t-care- what-happens feeling! ”’. The reporter eyed her with a sardonic smile. ‘I guess you’ve had a quarrel with your steady,” he commented. “Well, that’s all bunk, I have no steady. I’m the sort of a girl that has no regular fellow!” “They must be blind then, the men you know!” The reporter’s languid eyes brightened with admiration as he stared at this strange girl. “Why don’t you come along?” smiled Tina coquettishly. “I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to that party if I have to go alone.” “Are you kidding? chance like that?” “Sure, I’d take a chance. come along?” =~ “Yes! Give me a few minutes to fix up this story and I'll be right with you.” Fifteen minutes later the reporter was trying to squeeze Tina’s hand as their taxi bumped and rattled up the road to the showy villa where Valdez gave his biggest parties. Would you take a Will you CHAPTER XV. A RECOGNITION—AND A SHOCK. S Tina left the café to carry George’s story to the newspaper, Bori took her place at the cashier’s desk. Without even glancing after the girl, George turned away from the desk and was on his way to the platform. Still enraged at Valdez and still smarting from the re- pulse of Margot, he longed to assert him- self. He wanted everybody to know that he was right there, ready to meet all comers if there was more trouble on the way. He walked to the piano, touched Pierre Vigney on the shoulder and spoke to him. The latter nodded and switched deftly from the jazz to the melody of an Italian folk song. It had been quite some time since George had entertained his café pa- trons. As part owner he was not sure whether it was beneath his dignity, but to- CORNICGLOO© S (C@