Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

228 “Leave that to me,” grinned Rod. “ I'll be there when the bugle blows.”’ “You are an ill-assorted pair, you and Mr. Campbell,” she continued. ‘“‘ He is peppy and seems to be set on springs. You are slow and easy going. How do you keep up with him?” “T don’t try. I drift along in the rear.” ““ Mary Norman has always been a quiet serious sort of girl, but she thinks he is wonderful. She was telling me about him before you came along. He keeps her laughing all the time.” “Howard is very witty and he is always at the bat trying to knock home runs. No wonder he is popular.”’ Miss Dupoy frowned. “I don’t know that he will last. He strikes me as a very temperamental and rather shallow person. But I’m told he is rich and has made his money all himself. That would seem to indicate otherwise.” Rod was a bit embarrassed. He didn’t like to tell this clear eyed, rather plain girl, the truth about Howard because it seemed underhanded, yet he hated to permit him to sail under false colors. He equivocated. “ All he has, be secured himself. I know that his parents were not well to do.” “ Then I am undoubtedly mistaken about him. Have you been friends long?”’ “JT went through college at Kansas City with him. He was the most popular man in his class.” “ Are you going to be abroad long?” “We haven’t made any plans. We are going to spend some months in Europe and I hope to see all the interesting places in England, France, Italy and Germany.” “ That’s quite a contract. We go over every summer, but stop only in Paris and London, and perhaps one of the summer resorts like Deauville or Ostend.” “J think we had better go down and dress for dinner,” suggested Mrs. Dupoy. “Ask your young friend to excuse you, Frances.” They departed, and Rod sought his own deck chair. It was on the deck above. There were two vacant chairs immediately beside it, which meant nothing to him, of course. But he had been seated for less than two minutes when he saw the girl with ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. black hair approaching with her mother, and escorted by the deck steward. He led them to the vacant chairs. Ger- trude Thomas rested her eyes upon Mc- Garry, who had seen her approach and im- mediately fastened his eyes upon a news- paper which he had carried in his pocket. “These are your chairs, Mrs. Thomas,” said the steward. ‘One of the most de- sirable locations on the ship.” “They will do very nicely,’ Thomas. ‘“ Mother,” said Gertrude, ‘“ I do not wish to sit here.” “Why, my child?” ““T have reasons which I shall explain later. Please change us, steward.” Miss Thomas was a sophisticated young woman. She had read in romances how men on board steamers were wont to bribe the deck steward to place their chairs be- side those of attractive girls whom they hoped to meet. This big Westerner had addressed her early in the day and been re- buffed. Nevertheless, he had the insolence to arrange to sit beside her during the voyage. While she might admire his courage she could not countenance it. His cue was to arise and ask the steward to change his chair, apologizing humbly to the affronted young lady. But Rod missed his cue. The fact that his chair was in this location was pure chance. He had never heard of scheming ) said Mrs. for a certain place in the line of seats. In his innocence he did not know what to do, and he remained silent, buried in his news- paper. He knew, of course, why the lovely, cruel girl wished her chair removed. He winced at her words. She was twisting the knife around in the wound to his sensitiveness. But he did not dream that she considered him guilty of a second outrage. Gertrude waited expectantly for a few seconds, and motioned to the steward to take away the chairs. A score of persons sitting about watched the little drama and suspected something of its significance. As she walked away Gertrude was say- ing to herself, ‘“ Why, the ignorant, ill-bred boor! If he had a vestige of decency he EO LMMIG MOO KS (E@)