Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

96 having been disposed of would be sufficient to make Old Sponger suspicious that some- thing was wrong, but of. course she meant that for a joke. Amy went to bed about four o’clock, but it would be untrue to say that she really slept. It was so uncanny, this stepping into another girl’s shoes, that every nerve. tingled with excitement. Hundreds of questions hurled themselves at her. How was Loraine getting on? Would she be unable to slegp also? Even though they were alike as two peas, wouldn’t any one who knew either of them detect the dif- ference in. their voices and manners? Wouldn’t Peter Tremiett know at once? At thought of him Amy grew very hard. Once could scarcely say that he was being punished as he deserved. Even though they succeeded in cheating him, he might be satisfied with his bargain; and also he might never discover that he had been cheated. Was it fair to Dick’s memory that all Witcham, and most particularly Peter Tremlett, should believe that Amy had so soon forgotten her poor husband? But it was too late to worry about. that now. Besides, Dick was where no earthly power could hurt him, and. if he knew he would understand. The purpose which had brought those two girls together was any- thing but blind. There might be something tremendous behind it; something which Amy felt instinctively but as yet could not see. Her eyes closed at last, but it seemed that only a moment passed before they opened again under a hot blaze of sun- shine. Somebody was jerking aside the window curtains. “ Come, now, miss—the bath ’ll be get- ting cold, and you not up yet. Wasn't you telling me to call you sharp this morn- ing?” A hearty voice boomed out, and Amy saw a stout, red-faced woman standing at the foot of the bed beaming down on her, It was the first and most severe test. ‘ Righto, Sponger,” she retorted,’ and she was amazed at herself for being able to bring out the words so aptly. ‘No turnings over for another forty winks,” admonished Mrs. Sponch. “TI see ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. you et your supper, so you won’t want no breakfast, I take it.” “Indeed I shall!” Amy exclaimed. ‘This is going to be a busy day.” “My word, deary—don’t tell me I can coax you to an egg. Me heart is weak.” “Two, if you’ve got ’em,” Amy replied in what she hoped was Loraine Drew’s best manmer. “Wonders never cease,” muttered the charwoman as she ambled off. _ Amy drew in a deep breath. Old Spon- ger hadn’t suspected a thing. It was like a miracle. : But the ordeal was to go a little further, for after she had had her bath and spent some time in hunting for clothes, Mrs. Sponch came to tell her that breakfast was ready, and stood over her in the studio while she ate it, making personal comments. “ Well, -miss, I’m glad to see a-change ‘thas come over you. A swill 0’ tea is better ’n champagne for breakfast any time, and there’s more nourishment in an egg than in a cigaret. Why, bless me, miss, you're looking another person already!” Amy started and raised the teacup to her lips. . ‘ You’ve got a better color, for one thing. I guess you didn’t sit up all night reading them trashy books.” “ That’s where you’re wrong,” Amy said boldly. ‘I hardly went to bed at all, but I didn’t do any reading.” ‘What, then?” asked Old Sponger, who obviously took a keen interest in her lady’s affairs: “Oh, just thinking things over. I shall have to hurry, sha’n’t I?” She got up and began to adjust a bright- red hat she had found in Loraine’s cup- board. Mrs. Sponch was suddenly taken with a devastating fit of laughter. ‘““What’s the matter with your” Amy asked in her own faltering voice. Had she been discovered? * “Oh, miss—oh, miss, forgive me! But you owe me a pound, indeed you do! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.” “I’m afraid I have. My memory’s been something shocking lately.” She—as Loraine Drew—might conceiv- comiclboooks C©