The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

CROWNED HEADS. Mr. Schwartz nodded ponderously —it was his habit to treat life’s prob- lems with ponderous nods—brooded awhile, and stated that it had “ godt alzo Mus goad.” Genevieve, reconciled to Katie after a decent interval of wounded dignity, said that she supposed there was a way out if one could only think of it, but it certainly got past her. The only approach to a plan of ac- tion was suggested by the broken- nosed individual who had heen Ted’s companion that day at Palisades Park, a gentleman of some eminence in the boxing world, who rejoiced in the name of the Tennessee Bear-Cat. What they ought to do, in the Bear-Cat’s opinion, was to get the old man out into Washington Square some morning. He of ‘Tennessee would then sasshay up in a _ flip manner and make a break.. Ted, waiting close by, would resent his insolence. There would be words, fol- lowed by blows. “See what I mean?” pursued the Bear-Cat. ‘‘ There’s yau and me mix- ing it—I’ll square the cop on the beat to leave us be, he’s a friend of mine. Pretty soon you hand me one-on the plexis and I take th’ count. Then there’s you hauling me up by th’ col- lar to the old gentleman, and me say- ing I quits and apologizing. See what I mean?” The whole, presumably, to conclude with warm expressions of gratitude and esteem from Mr. Bennett, and an instant withdrawal of the veto. Ted himself approved of the scheme. He said it was a crackerjack, and he wondered how one so notori- ously ivory-skulled as the other could have had such an idea. The Bear-Cat said modestly that he had ’em sometimes. And it is prob- able that all would have been well had not it been necessary to tell the plan to Katie, who was horrified at the very idea, spoke warmly of the danger to her grandfather’s nervous system, and said that she did not think the Bear- to both of them. 667 Cat could be a nice friend for Ted. And matters relapsed into their old state of hopelessness. And then, one day, Katie forced herself to tell Ted that she thought it would be better if they did not see each other for a time. She said that these meetings were only a source of pain It would really be better if he did not come round for— well, quite some time. It had not been easy for her to say it. The decision was the outcome of many wakeful nights. She had asked herself the question whether it was fair for her to keep Ted chained to her in this hopeless fashion, when, left to himself and away from her, he might so easily find some other girl to make him happy. Had not Mr. Murdoch spoken of girls in Harlem, and even in the dis- tant Bronx, who were dying to make him happy? It was not right that she should spoil his life. Her mind was made up. -She would send him away. So Ted went, reluctantly, and the little shop on Sixth Avenue knew him no more. And Katie spent her .time looking after old Mr. Bennett (who had completely forgotten the affair by now, and sometimes wondered why Katie was not so cheerful as she had been), and—for though unselfish, she was human—hating those unknown girls, whom in. her mind’s eye she could see clustering round Ted, smi- ling at him, making much of him, and driving the bare recollection of her out of his mind. The summer passed. July came and went, making New York an oven. August followed, and one wondered why one had complained of July’s tepid advances. : With the beginning of September came the first faint suggestion that this could not last, and that the fall would soon be here to make life en- durable again. New York was still an oven, but there was hope in the air. Katie had almost welcomed the heat COMicdoo S CO@