Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

874 swivel chair and rested his head for a min- ute in his hands. “Damn!” he said. And the way he said it, that “‘ damn ” might have meant ’most anything. FV. It was exactly twenty-seven minutes after five when Robert brought his big touring-car to a stop in front of his sum- mer home. One glance at the house told him that the last of the luncheon guests had departed. Miriam, cool and radiant, was seated in a big wicker chair on the porch, with Judith in her arms. She put the baby down as Robert came briskly up the walk, and started to meet him. : Where Robert had expected to be met with frowns and condemnation, he was re- ceived with kisses and beaming considera- tion. _ “ Where’s Alice?” he asked, sort of hedging the issue he knew must be forth- coming. ‘‘ Can’t she look after the baby?” Miriam smiled as she recalled a scene when he had suggested that she take a hand at the nursing game. ‘‘ Alice is busy in the house,” she an- swered. She led him toward the big wicker swing, pressed him comfortably into place among the cushions, then sat down beside him, snuggling close. “How was the luncheon?” he asked. There was something apprehensive about her gay mood, and Robert took the quick- est way of ferreting the mystery. “The luncheon? Oh, Bobbie, dear, it was great. Everybody—” “Sorry I-couldn’t get here, Miriam,” he began, with the air of a man feeling his way in the dark. ‘“ I—” She made it impossible- for him to con- tinue, first with a kiss, then by putting her hand over his mouth. “Please don’t apologize, Bobbie,” she said. ‘‘ Don’t ruin it.” ‘Ruin what?” he asked dazedly. ‘““Can’t you guess?” she beamed. “Guess what?” e‘‘ Haven’t you seen?” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Seen what, dear?”’ For answer she took one of his big hands in both of her little ones, pillowed her head on his shoulder, and whispered into the folds of his shirt front: ‘“1’m so happy, Bobbie, dear.” Bobbie was happy too. But he was equally dazed. What sort of game was this Miriam was playing? Here he had expected to find her raving and tearing her hair, and biting holes in the atmosphere, and he found her— ‘Bobbie ”—this from the folds of his shirt front. ‘Yes, dear.” ‘“ Bobbie, I was so afraid you’d come.” ‘Afraid ?'d come. You mean afraid I wouldn’t come.” “No, I don’t, Bobbie, dear. I mean —afraid you’d come. But you didn’t, and—”’ She looked up into his inquiring face and smiled. “You don’t understand, stupid?” “No, I admit I don’t, Miriam—not quite.” ‘You haven’t even suspected?” His reply was an absolutely blank ex- pression. “Honestly, Bobbie, didn’t you know that I was trying you out—that I was test- ing you?” ‘“ Trying me out—testing me? What do you mean, Miriam?” His tone might have been taken for one of impatience had there not been so much warmth in it. She met his question with one of her own. “Bobbie, do you remember that night I told you I wanted a nurse for Judith— remember?” He assured her that he did. “Bobbie, you made me happier that night than you ever had before.” Robert, bewildered, dazed, wondering, ventured to offer a suggestion. ‘What do you mean, Miriam; what are you driving at? Won’t you please begin at the beginning—for the sake of a very stupid husband?” ‘““T’m beginning at the beginning,” she answered. “‘ The beginning was that night. Hadn’t you felt that there was something Gomichbooks