The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

etal | Pir | ptt, ER | a ~ SEVEN MINUTES AFTER. 177 Robinetta, her hand still in Araminta’s soft, cordial clasp, laughed softly. “ I tele- phoned from next door,” she explained; “1 made a mistake in the house. They were having a dinner-party, and I caught sight of the women trailing owt to the dining- room, It made me remember that I Was not @ressed, so 1 asked the man if I might telephone. I must ask your pardon for coming like this,” she added directly ‘to her hostess. Rven Araminta laughed, there was some- thing so naive in getting as far as “‘ next door,” and then remembering her lack. of suitable clothing. Tony grinned his wide, infectious grin. “You're giving your brother away like everything, Miss Cortland,” he announced. “He made a pretty apology for himself, permitting you to come this way.” Tt was a merry party by the time dinner was announced. ‘“ We haven’t enough men to go round,” said Miss Letherby. “I’m afraid you're left, Anita.” She smilingly took David's arm. Tony, so hapyy that he was now grinning foolishly, took Robi- netta on his right and Anita at the left. Somehow, with the coming of this slender, bright-eyed girl in street garb, an air of gaiety had invaded the party. “Tm hungry enough to—” Robin paused suddenly as they crossed the hall, catching sight of herself in the mirror that ran from floor to ceiling in one corer. “ Why, I haven't taken off my coat,” she said, the color rising in her cheeks; “ and—oh, I am afraid Miss Letherby will think me too informal altogether,’ she confided to Anita across Tony’s broad chest. “I only have riding clothes underneath this.” She touched the coat of covert cloth that buttoned smartly to her throat. “ No, indeed,” said Miss Ferndale kindly. “ Miss Letherby is too happy to have you here. Let us drop the coat here in the hall. Simmons!” A young footman came forward and took the coat. Robin stood revealed in a fawn- colored habit that spoke eloquently of the West. The coat came down to her knees, and the smartly cut breeches fastened below it around the slender, rounded knees. Rid- ing boots that were ridiculously small cov- 2 ARcosy . ered the dainty feet and aekles, and little golden spurs clinked as she moved, It was not an Eastern riding outfit, but it was an Eastern tailor’s dream of what a Western habit should be, Anita’s trained eyes saw. And it was perfect; no need for Robin to apologize for her apparel. She seemed, in her slim, feminine boyishness, to have been poured. into the clothes she wore, aiid as she moved toward the dining- room her grace struck Migs Ferndale dumb, How many New York girls could have appeared in such attire without being con- scious of it, she wondered. She was a young Diana, without Diana’s sternness. At the door to the diing-room, however, she paused again. ‘Oh, please, when I have done everything else stupid, I’ve one more to add to my list. I’ve left something —something really important, in the pocket of my coat. If the footman feels it he will bs scared; may I—” “Let me get it for you,” said Tony eagerly. “ Thanks; in the right-hand pocket; you won't miss .it.” She waved Anita on into the dming-room with an airy gesture, and waited for Tony with thinly veiled amuse- ment. Then her sight was caught and held by something that was happening in the back hall. She could see it all in the mizror. A grip—old and wrinkled and worn—was being taken wp the back stairs on the top of a trunk, a little hand-made trunk with something familiar about it. The man hald- ing the back end stopped a moment to adjust his hold and, turning slightly, dis- played the initials painted in primitive fashion on the end: alae tee Robin read. Impulsively she ran forward and spoke to the servants in an authorita- tive tone. ‘Whose trunk is that?” she said im- periously. One of the men laughed. “Tt don’t be long to no one, miss; it’s a new buy of Miss Letherby’s, that’s all; she’ve a fancy for old junk sometimes.” He hoisted the trunk again, displaying the three letters to her closer, sight as he did so. Robinetta nodded and turned away, comicbooksscom