All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

A THIEVES’ But I took a step nearer to make sure, and as I did so the occupant of the taxi leaned forward. Margaret Rollins! CHAPTER VII. ARRANGING THINGS. A MOVEMENT of her hand beckoned me to get into the taxi and to be quick about it. It was no time or place for argu- ment. I obeyed. The girl was alone; not in the least frightened or apologetic, and while I was vainly searching for something to say, she remarked as the cab moved out from the curb. ‘“ Before we let the taximeter regis- ter any more miles against us perhaps I'd better be sure that you have enough money to pay for it!” It is useless to attempt to explain how I felt. JI was too limp and sur- prised to finely analyze sensations. The Miss Rollins I had met a few evenings before had departed com- pletely. By my side—too near me in fact to be quite fair to any man—sat a new creation. She was beautiful and vivacious, and entirely self-possessed. Her eyes sparkled with the joy of life and free- dom, and I knew that she was laugh- ing at me quietly within. “ You see,” she explained, “ I didn’t have time to bother about money. When I fainted at Aunt Alice’s—” “ Fainted!” “Yes: I faint beautifully, and Cousin Alice was sent home with me in their car. Papa has an apartment on Central Park West, not far from Mr. Campbell. , Of course you know that papa is not at home to-night, don’t your” ‘‘ Rr—yes—I. believe he said some- thing about getting a telegram from a friend this morning—” A peculiarly bright smile interrupt- ed me. COMEDY. 739 ‘Papa isn’t always truthful. He fibs outrageously sometimes. He had a visit from that friend on Monday, and that’s one reason why I’m here shocking you so very much. Please don’t let’s waste time discussing how unconventional this is. I’m tired of conventional things, anyway. You look as if you were afraid of me.” I was. But I sat up a little straighter and tried to refute the charge. “No—I'm just a bit startled. It isn’t right, you know, and you are so —er—so different. Altogether dif- erent. On ‘Thursday you looked per- fectly harmless. How did you pene- trate my disguise? ” She shook her head slowly. “Can’t answer.” “Any other member of the family group guessed it?” ‘** Alice. She put that letter in your coat-pocket and helped me to faint and get away from her mother. After that the rest was easy, except that I haven't any money.” She seemed to doubt very much if I would have enough. “| think I can manage that,’ [ an- swered her. ‘“ Now, let’s have the ex- planation.” “ Yes, let's,’ she agreed, and stopped there expectantly. “ Well—er—that is—what is it?” I stammered when the pause was be- coming awkward. “YTsn’t that rather your affair than mine?” “ My—nmny affair?” I met the quiet, interrogative look she gave me blankly. “ \Why—yes. I have seen and ap- prove of you, and I know you're not one-half as stupid as you are trying to appear. So please get the proposal over and done with, and then we'll talk business. Don’t get down on your knees, though. The floor’s dirty.” We were still somewhere on River- side Drive, but mentally I was in pitch- darkness, gasping for air. ** Pro-posal!”’ She laughed at me openly now. comnliclooks.com