Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

562 rather report to my boss first. He ex- pressly admonished me not to say anything about the work he had given me to do; and he even mentioned that no one else knew I was hired to do it. Business men are closeipped, you know.” Felice pouted adorably. “You talk as if you had been hired to invent a new~kind of soap,” said she. “Well, what about your bag?” “There wasn’t much in it,” said he euardedly, ‘‘ aside from a few collar but- tons, cuff links, a book of lectures, and the camera with your undeveloped negative. If the folks that filled it with all that rubbish thought they took away much worth while, IT wish them joy.” “Have you any idea who did take it?” * A suspicion, but no proof.” “Is it Foster?” she asked, leaning to- ward him, her eyes very bright. ‘“ You know he behaved very oddly this morning. And f couldn’t help hearing that remark of his, when he met you, after you went out of the window.” “No. The theory of probabilities is very much against Foster’s having taken it. Foster probably thinks he has other rea- sons to be studiously polite to me but no more. He seems to be a model servant.” “Ve-s.” asreed Felice hesitatingly, “but then you know, Arthur, that things aren’t always quite what they seem. pars a proverb, isn’t ite ““T believe it is.’ “And,” she continued mischievously, “is the proverb strictly scientific?” “ Quite so, I dare say. Many things in science aren't what they seem to be at all.” “ What kind of a boss is your new boss?” asked Felice, abandoning proverbs. - ‘““ A very good boss, I should say.” “ Good?” ae echoed. “He reposed an amount of sohndciee in my abilities that was nothing short of phenomenal, considering he never heard of me nor I of him until yesterday.” “ Can’t you tell me anything about this job?” =¥ “T can generalize on it.” ~“ Go ahead, General Tower.” They both ag oe It was deliciously absurd. = ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “How did you solve the problem?” de- murely persisted Felice. “By applying principles resulting from the most modern scientific research,” said he, unhesitatingly. c What principles?” she challenged. Her eyes were bright, her color high. She was the incarnation of all the dreams that had come to him while following the dogged routine of a laboratory. It was hard to fight back with only duty between him and the desire of his heart to tell her everything. “Principles even more ethereal than a thought itself,” said Arthur. ‘“ Principles, of themselves invisible to human eyes, but which left their imprint on the problem.” “But how could you see invisible prin- ciples? Thoughts aren’t visible!” “Thoughts sometimes become visible in acts. These principles left like traces. Just as a vile deed implies an ignoble thought that prompts it, so these principles that made this problem what it was left their traces plain to see. Felice, dear, please don’t press me for details. honor to say no more. You wouldn’t have me break my word, would you?” Felice gave him a ravishing smile. “ V’m—beginning—to like—science,” she drawled. Then, with a naiveté at once adorable and brutally shocking, she added: ‘““ Did I tell you I had a proposal of mar- riage?” He managed a negative shake of his head. ‘The science all oozed out of him. But he rallied, as gamely as Detective Cas- sidy had tried to fight off the effects of the blow on the head from the masked intruder in the garden. “According to the theory of probabili- ties that we were just discussing,” he said bravely, “‘ you should have at least one a day.” ““ Flatterer!”’ taunted Felice. had six so far.” “From six men?” he asked dully. “Oh, no—not quite as bad as that.” “Well, I won’t withdraw my last state- ment—for the theory of probabilities cer- tainly justifies me in expecting that you will have one from another man that hasn’t pro- posed—yet, one of these days.” She rose and walked over to him, Delib- *“ T’ve only Tm —— in. OME NOOKS ELD) (E©)