Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

teeat swraie sees 'e apy: AM R ectara +3 ieetaia ty By ISABEL OSTRANDER Author of ‘‘Annihilation,’’ ‘* McCarty Incog,’’ etc. CHAPTER XVIII. EXPLAINED, N the fashionable shopping center of | town, Mary descended from the bus and made her way to the line of telephone booths in one of the great hotels towering above the stores. It was after one o’clock, but she finally located Wesley King at a lunch club in the financial district. ‘“ Mary?” His resonant voice held sur- prise mingled with half-incredulous joy. “J scarcely dared hope that you’d let me hear from you after our misunderstanding Thursday night!” “Our misunderstanding?” she queried coldly. ‘““Of course you must have realized by now that I was only joking,” he expostu- lated. “TI admit, dear, that it was in de- cidedly bad taste, and you are such a seri- ous, literal-minded little woman that I should have remembered, but surely you know—” “Tt was in bad taste, Wesley, but never mind about that now,” she interrupted. ‘I’m in town, and there’s something I’d like to talk over with you.” ‘“ Heaven knows I want to see you, dear one!”’ he cried quickly. ‘‘ Wherever you are, I’ll come at once and take you- to lunch.” ‘Thanks, I’ve had mine,” Mary replied with a little shudder of distaste. ‘ I’d like to see you quite alone. Would you care to meet me when you have finished and take me for a little spin through the park? I'll be here in the Rose Room at the Golconda Hotel.” “T’d love it, dearest! I’ve so much to say to you, too. I’ve been working on the matter you asked me to, and I think I'll have something to tell you.” ‘“T think so, too, Wesley,” she respond- ed quietly. ‘In an hour, then.” Leaving him to ponder over her last words, she rang off and crossed the avenue to a small but somberly rich shop which This story began in the Argosy-Allstory Weekly for June 21. 757 O CopmicooolkSse©