Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

BORROWED PLUMES. charm was not merely for the young man; and after Ugichi had fetched the tea things, their party became almost hilarious. In the very midst of it another sum- mons at the door called Ugichi. Presently the Japanese stood gravely at the entrance to the den, and with a twinkle in his im- penetrable black eyes, softly hissed: “‘ Meester George Strong—and lady!” “Love of Mike!” gasped Strong, Sr. “How many George Strongs are there around these diggings, anyhow?” In the studio were the Count and Countess Vaudreuil, with the lavender: gloved Sangrado hovering in the rear like a fallen angel. Introductions of a stormy and vociferous nature followed. The count- ess, as golden and blue and charming as ever, and as capable, for the first time met Delphine. Strong, Sr., for the first time met real nobility. It was some time before everybody had met everybody else. The announcement by Ugichi that dinner was prepared broke the ice; and shortly all were seated about a genuine Japanese feast which did credit to Ugichi’s culinary skill, considering the short time he had had to evince it, and the rough morning’s work he had gone through. During the mushroom course, Count Vaudreuil explained their presence. Greatly worried over the plight of “‘ Mme. Volon- tiers,’ and fearful of what her wicked brother, Langouste, might do to her, he had made a clean breast of all to his wife. There was nothing to be ashamed of; she had, in fact, known of his boyish at- tachment, though she had forgotten it. THE U U Her good heart led her to insist that Edouard return at once and see the affair through; but for prudent reasons of her own, she decided to accompany him. Ar- riving unannounced, they had the felicity. to learn that all was well, and to meet not only the lady herself, but the young gentle- man with whom Monsieur le Comte de Vau- - dreuil had playfully exchanged identities, to the downfall of both. “It needed but your presence, sir,’”’ the count concluded, “‘ to make our happiness complete!” Whereupon he rose and proposed a toast, first to Mile. Delphine, and then to George’s father. When these had been drunk, and the fa- mous story of the fight retold, Strong, Sr., insisted upon hearing once again, and from the lips of the lady herself, the matchless narrative of the perambulator with its bo- logna sausage. So Delphine, between delicate puffs of her cigarette and tiny sips of café gloria, told the tale in her inimitably piquant manner. And when she had finished, George Strong, Sr., threw his bomb, He squinted up his eyes, flicked the long gray ash from his cigar, and remarked to the count and to the table at large: ‘“‘ Well, by the way these young folks look at each other, I’d say it was within the pos- sibilities that they may some day be wheel- ing a baby carriage with something a lot more precious than a sausage in it!” A jest whose truly Gallic flavor was ap- preciated by everybody but George, and at which even the saturnine Sangrado grinned! END Le} THE GUN FANNER BY KENNETH PERKINS (Arcosy-Attstory WeeEkLy, June 10 to July 1, 1922), has been made into a motion picture for TOM MIX under the ttle “ Romance Land,” and can now be seen on screens throughout — country. —— by Fox Film eat . 693. == C€oOmMicbooks wo Fe we