Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

THE ANSWER I5 YES! ‘“ The answer Is yes!”’ As the aircraft rose again and streaked out of sight, doubtless to continue its com- munications to the world below, Mr. An- drew Bennett came to a decision. He went to his private office, locked the door, and called on the long distance telephone opera- tor for a Stockbridge connection. He waited patiently, and when Florence’s voice sounded over the wire, he said: “How soon can you come to town? This is important.” ‘“T can make it this afternoon, dad,” she replied, ‘‘ but what’s wrong.” ‘“ Nothing,” he lied, ‘‘ but there’s some- thing I want to clear up. By the way, if you can locate Mr. Hastings I’d like to talk to him, too.” There was a pause, and then the girl Said: “Tl try to bring him to the office with ne. Anything else, dad? Sure there’s L0Othing wrong? All right, Pll hurry.” Mr. Bennett made a voluntary prisoner of himself in his office, indifferent to the whisperings that he knew must be echoing through the staff. Toward evening, Flor- ence arrived, hurrying through to her father’s room—with Bill Hastings only a few steps behind her. “Why, dad, something 7s wrong, after all! You’re worn out, illP What is the trouble?” Andrew Bennett made a quick nervous gesture for silence. He felt his nerves be- ginning to twitch. He must get the thing over, quickly. He turned to Hastings, and without a word of recognition, said bluntly: ‘‘T wanted you both here so that there could be no misunderstanding. I have reached the limit of endurance. You asked me for my consent to marry my daughter. I told you ‘No’ and you said you would not take that for an answer. Very well; I’ve reconsidered the question and I tell you now, sir, that ‘ The answer is yes.’ “You have my permission to marry my daughter if she wishes to be married to you. Ask her, now—here. But before you ask her, tell her how you won your victory over her father; tell her the methods you used to break down his resistance, the chivalrous Strategy you exercised. Tell her it all.” D19 Florence, startled at the outburst, turned from her father to the man at her side. Hastings stiffened and his face paled as he stared at the trembling man confronting him. “Why don’t you speak?” demanded An- drew Bennett harshly. “ Tell my daughter of your damnable airplane spurting smoke, ‘of your indecent advertisements in newspa- pers, electric lights, billboards and the devil himself knows what else! Tell her about your painted women leering from the stage to sing at me that my answer must be yes, and then ask my daughter to marry you, if you dare—you—you-—you—” He swayed suddenly, his hand fumbled at his desk and he dropped into the chair, exhausted, as Florence and Hastings sprang to his side. Andrew Bennett waved them both back: ‘“Go on,” he said to the young man. ‘Tell her the story.” ‘“Good heavens!” exclaimed Hastings. ‘There is no story. I don’t know what you're tajking about, sir. I haven’t any airplanes or electric lights or newspaper ad- vertisements. You're tired, Mr. Bennett. You’re unnerved.”’ ‘* Ha? Wait!” He reached for a file of newspapers and whipped over the leaves un- til the page with the offending announce- ment lay flat on the desk before them. ‘“ Read that, sir,” he said, “ to my daugh- ter and then tell her the rest of the story.” Hastings glanced swiftly at the typed half- page then exclaimed as he spun round on his heel: “Good Lord, that? Me? Why—please call that cold-blooded secretary of yours!” Without waiting for a response, Hastings reached over and jabbed a button on the desk. Miss Simpson entered immediately. The young man pointed to the advertise- ment and said: ‘‘ Miss Simpson, Mr. Bennett wishes to know all that you know about that copy. He knows nothing about it himself.” The young woman glanced quickly at her employer. He nodded, dazed, and she re- plied: ‘Of course, I know all about it. Every one does. We sent it to the newspapers—” “We did!” and Mr. Bennett was gal- cloOOkkS CO