The Argosy for May — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

IT IS THE MAN, ‘My dear Grant,” said Hudson in a low voice, “you have finished yourself completely. To tell the truth, I was just a bit afraid of you as far as Miss Wakefield was concerned, but ‘after all you have just said she won’t even look at you.”’ ‘Tell her any old thing you like about me,’ returned Grant in a loud voice, “except the truth. Tell her I am a bookkeeper, if you care to do so.” . As he finished, Grant looked at his watch. ee ‘You have just fifteen minutes to get into your evening clothes,” he said. a II. A QUARTER of an hour later the two men found themselves on the way to the dining-room. Hudson stopped to talk with a tall, dignified elderly woman, who proved to be Mrs. Wakefield. She took an immediate liking to Grant, much to Hudson’s discomfiture,=for, try as he might, he had never succeeded in im- pressing the lady with his good points. He was rather surprised when she in- rited him and his friend to join herself and daughter at their table. _ “Mr. Wakefield and my sister have gone to New York,” she explained, there will be two vacant places.” Needless to say, Hudson was delight- ed. Grant accepted as a matter of course. Miss Wakefield joined them a little later, and Grant found himself in close touch with her. However, he per- mitted Hudson to fill all the spare time for small talk that the young woman donated. Hudson put forth his -best powers of conversation, and when the meal was half over was so satisfied with his own efforts that he conveyed his pleasure thereat by covert glances at Grant. Miss Wakefield only spoke to the new- comer now and then, and he never ven- tured to endeavor to draw her into a chat. It was always she who introduced the various topics. Everything of interest at,the seaside resort was discussed, and ‘then Miss Wakefield mentioned the titles of several popular novels which she had read. She criticized them in regard to characters and plots, until Grant remarked: % a Wakefield. 300 “You seem greatly interested in books, Miss Wakefield? ” = OF am you?” “ Not at all,” answ ered Grant, giving Hudson a look, as if to command silence on hig part. ‘“ How she replied. “ Aren't strange!’’ exclaimed Miss “I am rather a good student of the peculiar characteristics of differ- ent persons, and from my experience in analyzing faces, heads, and hands I should say that you ought to be exceed- ingly interested in literature of all kinds.” ‘There is only one book I read,” said Grant; “but that one doesn’t consume much of my time, and I don’t enjoy it. I read it completely through from start to finish in two glances. The end is a sad ohe.”’ ‘And what book can that be?”’ asked Miss Wakefield, with undisguised curi- osity. “My bank-book, of course,’’ replied Grant with a smile, and earned his at- - tention to Mrs. Wakefield. He was apparently absorbed in ister: ing to her remarks, but distinctly heard Miss Wakefield say to Hudson: “Your friend seems to be a clever fellow.” “Think so?” answered Hudson care- lessly.: “ By the way, Miss Wakefield, what about that sailing party?” “Oh, I haven’t thought much about it, beyond suggesting that we have one,” was the reply. Then she returned to Grant and in- quired : “Are you fond of the water, Grant?” “*T love it,’ he answered. ‘So do I,” she continued, with enthu- siasm. ‘‘ Many persons don’t: care much about it—that is, about sailing. If it is a trifle rough, you know—”’ ““T understand,” broke in Grant. “ Rough weather never affects me. I am a good sailor. ‘That’s about the only accomplishment I possess. The rougher the better for me.” : “Tt must be great to be out in a storm? ’’ went on the young lady. ‘“T’ve been in a number of them. Got upset several times, and so forth. Just escaped drowning, and all that.” “Oh!” exclaimed Miss Wakefield in : Mr. S (C@ MICLOOO