Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

HIS THIRD MASTER. found Alexander—with touches of genius which lifted him above North’s sphere. All that he gained out of this sentence of Dickon’s was that the master would go a long way to have the wealth which meant such an establishment as this. In all of which North perfectly accorded with him. A gentleman to serve was the first require- ment for his happiness, but next to that there was nothing more important than a goodly establishment. The Devening and Wentworth households had been fine ones, but they had never represented a tithe of what lay within the reach of the Rainey thirty millions. He began to see himself already in the position of a sort of tutelary deity of that mansion-to-be-built—an over- power which controlled the household mech- anism. And though he observed that the master was sad as he sat at the window, looking over that exquisite landscape, he attributed the sadness to causes quite out- side of his own ken. The next high point for him during the day was to see that the room was kept in perfect quiet while the master enjoyed his afternoon nap; and after that he entered into the serious duty of getting Dickon ready for dinner. He felt a pride in turn- ing out Dickon which he had never felt with Devening or Wentworth. Neither of his first two masters could compare with that virile, deep-chested figure on which no coat that was ever designed could disguise the muscular strength of the shoulders. There was the combined weight and lithe- ness of the athlete in that form, and William North worked over him as an artist works ovet a masterpiece. It was a long task, for trousers and sleeves must riot be pressed too sharply, yet sharply enough, and the waistcoat must drop with just sufficient free- dom, and the shoes must be shined care- fully, rather than ostentatiously; the knot- ting of the tie was in itself a work of art, and the observance of each pocket and its contents, to make sure that nothing bulged so far as to disarray important lines, was undertaken with the scrupulous care of a surveyor. But at last he could do no more, and even his grudging eye was contented. From his toes to his tie he pronounced Dickon perfect. 907 “Give me good luck,” said Dickon at the door. “I’m going out to the big bat- tle, North.” ‘“A man must be born with clothes, he can acquire manners,”’ said William North, “but with clothes it’s another story. Mr. Greene, you needn’t be ashamed this night.” A faint smile softened for a moment the lines of that dominant, gloomy face, and then Dickon went downstairs. He was hardly among the guests and through with the necessary introductions when Mrs. Lit- tleton caught his eye and led him apart. ““’‘You’ve taken me behind the lines, so to speak,” she said, “ and showed me your plan of battle. It’s only your due that I should do what I can to help you along. I suppose you want to take Cynthia Rainey to dinner?” ‘ By no means,” said Dickon. “No?” She looked at him, half amused, half surprised. ‘“‘ What, then?” “It would be almost too pointed, don’t you think?” he answered. “ You don’t want James Vincent to think that his time is wasted, do you?” She followed his slight gesture. Vincent sat cornered with Cynthia Rainey. “ Surely,” said Dickon, ‘ such efforts as those should have a reward.” Mrs. Littleton gasped. Her poise seemed utterly shattered by what she had seen.. “ James Vincent!” she breathed, and just a tinge of color came up in her pallid cheeks. ‘You don’t think that it means anything with him, do you?” | “Where Vincent is concerned,” said Dickon, “I don’t presume to think at all.” She eyed him with a new appreciation, smiling. One of her chief supports in her long war for social prestige was her ability to judge merits of newly rising stars on the horizon and make them hers as soon as they appeared; and as she looked at Dickon Greene, now, noting the cold eye and the clean, strong line of chin and nose, she de- cided upon the spot something which she had half admitted before—he was a rising force among them. Indeed, she wished that he might be, for he had maneuvered him- self into such acceptance with her that it would be a blow to her if he did not “ make good ” elsewhere. comicloool C©