Life — August 11, 1910 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

240 “LIFE “Good,"! he replied, clasping my hand in a convulsive grasp. “The dawn of liberty is at hand.’* XI We met in what had once been a café, which was now closed by order of the Domestic Police. Husband 46,328C kept guard at the door and admitted cach one as he arrived, the password being the low whistle of, “A man’s a man for a’ that."’. Those who could not whistle it hummed it. When we were gathered, some four hundred of us, Brother Husband 23,408X, my visionary friend, read the reports from the other associations and we joined in discussion. I hav never seen such a scene of suppressed wild excitement tem pered by stern determination as when I, fired by the enthu siasm of the moment, leapt upon the table and told them of former days, of Man's supremacy before it was wrested fro him, of the great wave of revolt which was gathering to a crest—a crest which would topple over and inundate in one whole country of our mighty flood of freedom for Man tt Dirth. “Let the tenth of March be the day!"' I cried “The tenth of March, the tenth of March!" rang through the whole café in a low, intense growl. “ Long live Gus!" Suddenly there was a crash at the door, and an instant all the lights were extinguished and, filing out of the back door, we scattered 1 chaff, XU I shail never so long as I live forget the awful sensation of breathlessness which overtook me after I had run sixty- eight blocks without stopping. At last, however, 1 managed to shake off the blood-cats which had pursued mi When I came in, Beatrix was sitting smoking in front of the fire. “Where have you been? ’’ she said sharply “ Out buying 3 's Home Companion,”’ 1 said. “ But foolishly enough I left it in the car."’ “T wonder if you're lying? But no! You dare not! Go to bed.” “ Thank you,’’ I said, and retired Little she recked whom she was speaking to. XVI “ Husband," said my lady-mistress sharply at breakfast, “have you heard anything—any rumor of a revolution I gripped my teeth tight on the egg I was being allowed to eat at a side table and looked at her steadfastly. She rose, and coming over to me put her arm round my neck “Gus,"" she said softly It was the first time she had used my real name and I trembled ail over as she gently stroked my hair “Gus,” she murmured, “you haven’t heard, have you?" Ob! the agony of the moment. No, Beatrix,”” I lied slowly, with the fragrance of her hair stealing into my senses, “I have heard nothing."’ . . . . . . . . . ° XVIL “Horrible Attempt to Depose Lady President by Body of Men!"" “What is that?’ said Beatrix, springing to her feet as the cry of the newsgirls reached us. THE WRONG DROTMERS IN THEIR HEAVIER-THAN-AIR | MACIUINE U paid heed, though I knew the time was at hand “T must go out,’’ she said. “Don't stir from the house at the peril of your life.’” “ Beatrix, you must not “Tmust. It is my du I was saved from being a traitor, but at what a cost, per- haps. I said. * she said, looking XXI The tenth of March came into being bright and clear. [ arose carly and went down to the front door. As I opened it a messenger on a car flashed past and for a second a red flag gleamed in the air. It was the signal for revolt. The telegraph and telephone wircs had been cut and the wireless wired. The Lady President was deposed. A male govern ment was being formed. So much the signal said, but to cach man was left his part. I locked the front door with the key I had stolen the evening before. “What are you doing?’’ said breakfast-room. “Assuming my true position,’ I said sternly. “You mea "* she said, and stopped, an alien expres- sion of fear creeping into her beautiful face. “[ mean that women are going back to their proper jilace, and that henceforward you are going to obey my orders.’ Never! Never! You are mad!’ she said, and pressed the bell “Tr is useless,’ I said. “The messenger guards a awaiting sentence of marriage on orders from the male ernment in Washington. Sit down,” I said hoarsely, as tried to leave the room. “ Sit down!” She hesitated, with the expression of a bewildered ct and then sat down, covered her face with her hands and be into tears, A wild shouting of “ Men Forever!’ rose from the str and going to the window I flung it open. “ Gus, Gus for President It was a cry that might reached from East to West, the heart of a great mob gi utterance to its deepest feelings, and I leaned out and stre my arms to them, too moved to speak “ Beatrix,’’ I said softly, as the shouting died away may kiss me . She looked at me through her fingers, hesitated, and ! rising to her feet, glided slowly over to me as I stood w with folded arms. Then, seeing all forgiven, she fell in: arms. “Tt was a silly old thing, anyway,”’ “T never liked it one bit.”’ rix, coming into the she said in a wh Comicbooks.com