Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

re ca me into the dressing room on y night, Kinkel produced a velvet which he opened with a flourish. Ain’t it a nifty?” he inquired. it was indeed a beautiful ring. The stone in its platinum setting resembled a yall of fire. __ Are you really goin’ to give that to Tremaine?” said Kunkel. ___ Why shouldn’t I? It’s mine, ain’t it?” demanded the Romeo. “ An’ furthermore, Mm goin’ to ask her to marry me. She’s __ the sweetest little girl I ever met.” ~ Girl!” repeated Kunkel scornfully. _ **She’s had six husbands.” “ She’s had four,” said the infatuated one. “She couldn’t help it if they all died.” The minute the curtain was down on the performance that night, there was a rush and bustle on the stage. The acts on the bill were scattering to all points of the conmpass. Some to Pittsburgh, some to Canada, some to Boston. Kinkel and Kun- kel and the MacNutts were to leave at eleven-forty for Chicago. Miss Tremaine was to take the midnight train for New York. So Kinkel would have to work fast with his presentation and love-making. | Pieces of scenery hurtled across the stage, _ propelled by frenzied stage-hands. Actors ran, up and down, grip in hand. Trunks _ bounded out of dressing-rooms, and crashed on the floor. Dogs barked, and out in the alley the transfer men were loading bag- gage and hurling abusive language at each ther. It was the invariable Saturday ight pandemonium. inkel was waiting for Miss Tremaine, Kunkel hovered around, vainly hoping ne miracle might save his deluded Bill MacNutt’s scheme, whatever evidently evaporated, and that ; not in evidence. ine, as befits a lady and a last to leave her dress- ing her cheeks. j; her eyes eh pee ‘4 7 Fi _ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. _ unknown wore a black mustache and puates There was a demoniac air about him. An he needed was the red suit to be M All topheles. ~ ry Well, Dotty,” he said. 7 Aj 5 a kind word for your lovin’ bushel 30 “ Qw-0-0-0,” wailed Miss Tremaine “ You cawn’t be ’Enery. 'E was blowed hup in Frawnce. You don’t talk like im Ow-0-0-0!” _ Then Miss Tremaine gave vent te a plercing shriek, and promptly fainted in the arms of a convenient stage hand. “ Let’s beat it,” said Kunkel to Kinkel, Kinkel aliowed himself to be Jed away, He seemed to be walking in a trance. All the way to the depot he never uttered a word. He kept close to Kunkel while the baggage was being checked. He sat in the waiting room, watching each arrival appre- hensively; and he continually wiped his perspiring forehead, and moistened his lips. It was not until they were seated in the sleeper, and the train was pulling out of Buffalo, that he spoke. “T’m cured,” he said. for me.” “It’s a lucky thing for you that her husband turned up when he did,” said Kunkel severely. ‘“ Half an hour more, an’ you’d have lost your rock. Fumny thing him showin’ up that way; he was sup- posed to be killed in the war.” “* Well, I’m darned glad he wasn’t,” said Kinkel decidedly. The train was late into Chicago, and they had to rush to make their opening perform- ance on time. It was not until after the matinée that Kunkel encountered Bill Mac- Nutt. “TI sure did put it over, didn’t I?” said Mr. MacNutt. “You put what over?” inquired Kunkel. “TI didn’t see you do anything.” “ Why you dumb-bell,” said Bill, “ didn’t the guy show up just right to spill the beans? Who do you think brought him there?” ‘ “Do you mean her husband?” said Kunkel. ‘On the level, you’ve played Dutch so long that you really are thick,” said Bill. “Why you poor fish, that wasn’t her nus- ‘‘ No more skirts