Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

a7 494 | ARGOSY-ALESTORY WEEKLY. with a Pinebluff contractor to put the build- was vaguely uncomfortable as he stood be- ing in repair. fore her. / He felt that he was forcing During the next ten days he had traveled this conversation upon her; that he was, to Pinebluff six times. He purchased furni- after all, taking advantage of the condition ture, rugs, draperies; he contracted for elec- that compelled her to meet his advances tricity and gas; he attended to a hundred -with seeming graciousness. He decided that and one things—and to all with a buoyant, he had better make it very brief— boyish enthusiasm that bespoke his supreme ‘Did you ever receive the note I sent confidence in the success of the new Ma- you, Mr. Boom?” she asked, after a pause. jestic. He nodded. “ Thank you so much for He did not see Ruth for two weeks after it,” he said, with such inordinate polite- c that fateful evening, but he received a note gress that a lint of puzzlement crept into from her, a few days later—couched in her eyes. Two weeks of reflection had terms that were decidedly formal, despite served to dispel the never very firm opinion their unfhistakable sincerity—thanking him that her dislike for Bert was whole-hearted, for his ‘‘ valiant rescue “of her from ‘that and she had been prepared to meet him horrible, horrible man.” There was no_ half-way in the delicate matter of changing slightest allusion to their former relations, open hostility to cordial friendship. nor was there a promise of future friend- Now, Bert’s strange reserve, so diffepent ship implied; and Bert read it through with from the attitude she had thought would a scowl in his eyes. ' be his at this meeting, disappointed and “ The mischief with her!” he muttered, surprised her. She could not, of course, starting to tear up the note, but, instead, know the real reason for his coolness, and . slipping it back into the scraggly edged she logically attributed it to his change envelope and putting it carefully away in of heart. Well, she wouldn't force her his dresser-drawer. “If she thinks I’m go-_ friendship upon him if— ing to run after her, she’s mistaken! I ‘‘ I—I suppose I’d better be going, Mr. should say not!” Boom,” she said, breaking into another He didn’t “run after her,” as a matter of awkward pause. ‘I mustn't be late to fact. But this, though he did net quite class.” realize it, was because his “ valiant rescue,” “It wouldn’t be a very good example of her had placed him in a position that for your pupils,” he remarked with a faint forbade such importunate advances as he smile. ‘Good morning, Miss Warren.” | had made that morning on Majestic Road. He lifted his hat and walked away, dis- She would, indeed, be forced to talk to him mally conscious of the fact that the brief now, or be guilty of the basest ingratitude; meeting had been an utter failure. And and of such a condition he could never yet, he decided, he had done the gentle- take unfair advantage. - manly thing in showing her that he would For this reason, when he met her on the not exact payment for her debt of gratitude _ street early one morning, he was about to to him. pass her with merely a murmured saluta- “Darn it!” he thought miserably. “1 tion, when, for some unexplainable reasen, wish I’d never got into this position. What he paused a few paces beyond her and can I do now!”’ . turned back. She, too, had stopped and The ensuing week was a busy one for turned back; and a moment of embarrassed Bert. There were still many details in con- silence hung between them as they faced nection with the Majestic Hotel’s opening each other. Then: that demanded his attention, and despite ‘You're out early this morning, Miss the distressing reflection that Ruth was Warren,’ said Bert. further away from him than ever, there was “Tm out early every morning,” Ruth always a lilt in his hedrt as he performed replied. “ Classes take up at eight thirty, his necessary tasks. you know. Didn’t you know I teach?” His was an imdomitable optimism that “ Yes, I knew it,” Bert answered. He quickly routed any dépression that resulted COME DOOKS Colin