The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

102 my plans about returning just because I got your damned letter.” “There, there, we'll drop that. little joke,” said Waring. ‘“ I’ll tell Frank Hal- lock, if you like, that he will have to show some definite results, or resign the position of special Nemesis. As I now understand it, you require the man’s removal from the regiment, at least.” “Your understanding is all wrong then!” Hartley snapped crossly. ‘I want your man Hallock to do the work assigned him, or get out. I want this Trent fellow out of the regiment—out of the city—out of my sight and hearing! Understand?” ‘*T will try to convey all that to Hallock as clearly as you have conveyed it to me,” said Waring with irritating mildness. Hartley got up then as though expecting the visitor to go, but the judge kept his seat. ‘“‘ Stay as long as you please, judge,” the host said with open rudeness. ‘‘ I have an appointment, so I'll bid you good-after- noon.” Waring smiled rather sourly. ‘“* Really, you have the fine old English gentleman’s manner of treating your law- yer like a servant,” he remarked. “Indeed?” said Hartley. ‘ Well, then you have pointed out another one of my inconsistencies, for my servants say that I treat them very well.” Waring knitted his brows and proceeded to puzzle out the intended meaning of the reply, and Hartley left him abruptly. The young man’s motor-car was waiting and he jumped in and ordered it driven to the Buckingham house. He found his fiancée at home and he announced to her that he came to pay his respects after his absence from town. ““H-m! I got the idea that you were to be away rather longer,” she said indiffer- ently. ‘ Sweet of you to come to see me right away! Have you managed to enjoy yourself?” “Hardly that!” Hartley exclaimed dis- gustedly. ‘I was beginning to feel almost comfortable in a stupid sort of a place up in the woods, but it didn’t last. Your brother arrived—”’ Miss Buckingham laughed gaily. THE ARGOSY. “And you had to flee back to the city for peace and quiet!” she exclaimed. ‘What a desperate time you have, Hart- ley! I’m afraid you'll have to start off again directly, for Brad is coming back too. He wrote me that he had decided to chuck the fishing trip and come back. He has some beastly affair going on with some girl of no account.” ‘Yes, I know,” said Hartley, concealing a yawn. “In fact I left him talking about it up there in the woods. The pathetic part of it is, that Brad fancies himself a sort of Don Juan. It’s too excruciating.” ‘““Oh, leave the poor chap to his fan- cies!’? Dorothy protested. ‘ He has to be amused somehow, and if he can find amuse- ment for himself, so much the better for all of us.” “But the poor ass is in danger!” Hart- ley informed her impatiently. “Do you want his back-stairs romance aired in the newspapers? The girl will bring suit for breach of promise, naturally, and the papers will print Brad’s face, you know— ‘brother of the beautiful Miss Bucking- ham, who is betrothed to Hartley Stuart Trent.” Oh! a sweet mess for all of us!” _ “ Poor chap! what a horrible worry for you!” Dorothy exclaimed _ ironically. “Why don’t you inform Brad that his vul- gar love affairs are disturbing your peace .of mind?” “IT told him what a bally idiot he was making of himself,” growled the young man, ‘‘ and—by Jove—he rather took it all as a compliment. Yes, I fancy he has got into that state mind; people avoid him so much, you know, that when one stops even to call him an ass, he feels quite flattered by the attention.” “Qh, well!’ Dorothy sighed wearily. “We are about to have war, it seems, so there’ll be a little of something new to talk about. I suppose that a lot of the chaps we know will be putting on khaki and going along.” “Yes, I suppose so,” said Hartley rather uneasily. “‘In fact, I—I am expecting to go myself.” “Qh! not really!” cried the girl, affect- ing a stare of horror. ‘“ Oh I say, Hartley, that would be simply ripping and noble of oO Comicbooe S CO