The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

CASTAWAYS OF THE YEAR 2000. attentions of Miss Tibijul. Strange that he should have forgotten her, even at.the time when he had found himself under her father’s roof. Somehow, as Lumley looked at Jef- ferson Plunkett and made note of the kindly consideration with which the lady favored him, his fears began to wane. Plunkett seemed entirely disorgan- ized. There was a blank look in his face and an uncertain light in his eyes. Miss Tibijul took his hand and led him to a couch. “ Poor man,” she murmured com- miseratingly, “ you’re all unstrung, and no wonder. Do sit down and rest. You are perfectly safe here.”’ Plunkett turned upon her a vacant stare. He did not speak, but slowly lifted a hand and drew it across his forehead. Gently Miss Tibijul pushed him down on the soft cushions behind him. He submitted passively. “Daughter,” cried Kennedy, 18, in consternation, ‘“‘ what does this mean? We are already courting de- struction by harboring one of the es- caped hostages, and now, unless my eyes deceive me, you bring in another.” “T saved him,” answered Miss Tibi- jul proudly and a bit defiantly. “ I was out for an afternoon fly in the Beetle, and I saw this poor gentleman below, a number of guards with electric guns pursuing him closely. I dropped down and took him aboard.” “And the guards got the number of your air-ship, I presume? ” chided her father. “A pretty situation, I must say, Hortense! The dictators will be after us, and so will our own people. But there’s no use arguing with a woman. Who is this man?” “Jefferson Plunkett, father. You are mistaken about our danger being increased by what I have done. This gentleman is the brother of the chief dictator. noon I have won for all of us here the gratitude of our worst enemy. We—’” The lady’s words faded from her lips. She had been taking a survey of In rescuing him this after-— 163 the room, and her eyes began to snap and sparkle behind the boxlike specta- cles that covered them. “Well, dear me!’ she exclaimed, stepping forward with outstretched hand. ‘‘ Here is my old friend, Ever- son Lumley, back again from the other century. The times have changed for the worse, Mr. Lumley, since you hon- ored us with your first visit.” It was merely a friendly pressure which Miss Tibijul gave Lumley’s hand. He experienced a tremendous relief. After all, the lady had had only a passing fancy for him, and it was plain that the fancy had gone, never to return. Ltimley’s heart expanded with hope. - “T am glad to see you again, Miss Tibijul,” he said, “ and—” “Miss Hortense Kennedy, 18,” the lady interrupted. ‘‘ Edict No. 2612 by the dictator of customs changed every name in New York.” “T wish to thank you, Miss—er— Kennedy,” Lumley proceeded, “ for saving Mr. Jefferson Plunkett. We were all quite worried about him.” “As soon as I took him aboard the Beetle he asked me to hurry to Forty- Second Street Station. What did he mean?” “He is an incredulous person,” ex- plained Lumley, “and refuses to be- lieve that he has been transported from 1901 to the following century.” “T knew something was wrong with him,” declared Miss Kennedy. ‘“‘ He needs the gentlest treatment, or the shock of full realization will unbalance his mind.” She went over and sat down on the couch beside Plunkett. “Don’t you understand, Jefferson,” she cooed, “that nearly a hundred years have passed since yesterday?” Plunkett lifted his hands and felt wonderingly of the upthrust braids capped with the gaudy ribbons. ‘Then suddenly he broke into a maundering laugh. “What a funny dream!” he ex- claimed. | CoOMmicbook CO