The Argosy, March 1907 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

= all right.” 3 — young man,” -. contemptuously the broad shoulders and wouldn’t do it, and there would only be a scene. Besides, I wasn’t hurt. It’s “T’ve heard quite a bit about that observed Mr. Gault, eying slender waist of the impulsive youth, who was beginning to slacken speed now that he was free from the dust-cloud— “quite a bit. And none of it was in his favor. According to all reports, he’s about the worst specimen of un- kicked puppy on record. ‘They tell me he was a monument of selfishness and conceit at Harvard, and afterward at the law school; that he gave himself unbear- able airs of superiority over the poorer men in his class, and that he’s an all- around cad. And all just because he happens to have met no one with public spirit enough to give him a good thrash- ing and teach him he doesn’t rule the whole universe.” .‘“Oh, come!” laughed the girl. “It isn’t quite as bad as all that. He’s been spoiled and petted until he doesn’t quite understand the rights: of other people. That’s all. He’s ‘““He’s been toadied to, just because he is his uncle’s heir and because he has more money than is good for any boy,” amended Mr. Gault—‘ just because he happens to be the nephew of the great Jonas Fitch. By the way, Jonas Fitch was your father’s former partner, wasn’t he? Of course he was! I remember, now, hearing rumors that ws “That he ruined my father and profit- ed by the crash in which the Brant for- tunes were swept away? It is quite true. Though there is nothing to be gained by brooding over that now.” “And that young beast is giving him- self airs on money that ought to be yours!” » “ As I said,” resumed the girl, “ there is nothing to be gained by bringing all that up now. I “Madge!” called a querulous voice from behind; “the hotel is only about three blocks away. Ride ahead and tell Seléne to prepare my bath.” Gault turned with amazement to face the old lady who had given so peremp- tory an order to Miss Brant; then, with still more amazement, he noted that - Madge, without a word, had whipped THE ARGOSY. ed for the hotel. up her donkey and ridden forward on her menial errand. As she passed Barry Clive the latter did not bow or in any way give sign of having recognized her. “7 don’t khow what salary that poor child receives,’ communed Mr. Gault within himself, “ but whatever it is, she certainly earns it!” 7K 2K ok BS * To reach Shepheard’s Hotel (the Wal- dorf-Astoria of Cairo) from the Gizeh Road one follows a transverse street. At a point a block or two east of the hotel this street forks. The left-hand road continues on past the hotel; the right, after divers curves and windings, carries the traveler into the slums, or lower native quarter, of the city. The average stranger in Cairo is prone to mistake the latter and wider highway for the hotel street. This is precisely what Madge Brant did. Spurring on ahead of the caval- cade, her cheeks aflame at the humilia- tion of being publicly addressed as though she were a servant, she instinc- tively chose the wider road. A passing string of camels had barred the way of the main party, causing a temporary halt and obstructing the view. Thus, Madge’s blunder passed unseen. Barry Clive alone, still riding in ad- vance of the others, saw her pass him, and as she turned to the right he in- stinctively followed. His own knowl- edge of Cairo’s topography was as lim- ited as was Madge’s, and seeing her go to the right, he supposed she was head- Thus they rode on, each thinking their fellow tourists were following at their heels. Clive was in a thoroughly bad temper. From the very outset of the trip it had irked him to be associated with a mere Cook tour. It had seemed beneath him ; he regarded his fellow travelers as hope- lessly commonplace, and sternly repelled their friendly advances. ; His aunt’s parsimony was a daily trial to him; and but for fear of offending her, and of thereby marring his own — financial prospects, he would long since have returned to. America. This afternoon the climax of annoy- ance had been reached when, in the pass- ing throng on the Gizeh Road, he had comicbooks-co