The Argosy for May — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

AT THE END ‘there was a man here yesterday, asking if we had any idea where you could be found.” The dramatist glanced up angrily, and a steely glitter showed in his eyes. “ There was?” he repeated slowly. ‘Yes; and he seemed anxious to lo- - cate you. I made a memorandum of it.” The fellow fumbled among some papers. ‘““Ah, here it is. His name is Mr. Dempster.”’ : Walker’s expression softened. “Tell Mr. Dempster, if he calls again, that | am leaving town very sud- denly,” he said, ‘‘ and as I will be miles away before he will know where I have been staying, it is no use leaving an ad- dress for him. Tell him—tell him—”’ There was just a faint trace of a choke as he added: “I may see him in New York this winter.” Walker hurried to counting his money. ‘““T suppose I ought to see Miss Bailey before I go,” he mused, “ but I simply cannot nerve myself to the ordeal. Be- cause it is an ordeal to me—forced to listen to the achievements of others. Then she would probably have callers, and—yes, Dempster might drop in, too. I shall not give him the opportunity of telling me of fis great success, when I can’t come back at him with regard to myself, except with the plain, unvar- nished statement—I’m at the end of my rope. Perhaps things may change be- fore the winter, and then I’ll be glad to see him. But not now,” and he shook his head decisively. The anticipation of the trip seemed to lighten his mind of a great load as he left the steamship office. The rest of the day found him in a cheerful mood— something so new to him for so many weeks that he marveled at it. He spent the afternoon sightseeing — there were many points of interest he had _ over- looked—and that evening the packing of his trunk seemed to give him a new lease on life. The next morning he awoke to find the sun streaming into his window, and this tended to increase his good spirits. He had a pleasant smile for the hotel help with whom he came in contact, and even extracted from his small supply of cash a little token for each_one. the street after OF HIS ROPE. 347 The cab that had been summoned was already waiting at the door when he de- scended to the office and paid his bill, while his luggage was being loaded upon the vehicle. All Walker’s troubles had faded into insignificance when he entered the car- riage; the driver mounted his box, and with a snap of his whip the dramatist realized that his unsuccessful stay in London was about to draw to a close. The cab drew up before the St. Pan- cras Station, where the boat train started, and the playwright watched the porters as they took charge of his baggage. It lacked a half hour of the time for the train to depart, but he made his way to his carriage and took a seat by an open window, from which point he watched the busy throng upon the platform. So completely taken up was he with the scene before him that he did not hear his name called by a young man, and not until this same person stood di- rectly by his window did he notice him. “Walker, for Heaven’s sake come out here a moment!” the newcomer ordered. “IT must see you.” In surprise he turned toward the voice and recognized Carroll Dempster. For one brief second the dramatist hesitated, then he hurried to the station platform, his curiosity as to what this man wanted spurring him on. ‘He can’t talk very long,” he con- soled himself as he stopped in front of the actor. = A glance at the clock showed that the train would leave in ten minutes. “Well, of all of the will-o’-the-wisps I’ve ever heard of, you are the worst,” Dempster declared, wringing the play- wright’s hand. “I’ve hunted London from one end to the other, and now that I’ve got you just as you are leaving town, I must talk quickly. In the first place, you must stay here another week.”’ Walker stared at the man in astonish- ment. “Why, impossible, Dempster!” he exclaimed. “ I’ve already got my cabin.” “Never mind that,” the other insisted. “Travel is light at this time of the year, and thé steamship company will change your ticket for some future date. You’ve got to do it, because I really crossed the ocean to see you.” MIiGDoOok (C@