Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

< * = =a . GENTLEMEN ONLY. 689 = said grimly. “ That’s why you haven’t had “Qh, no! That isn’t possible.” ‘ any peace.” : ‘See it with half an eye,” he contended. : “But I thought it was my duty,” she ‘‘ That’s another danger you exposed your- justified herself anxiously; “the rooming self to. You're young — attractive — they houses I saw when I was looking for one— probably thought you wanted ’em to fall in they were dreadful places. So cold—so love with you.” impersonal.” “Oh, no!” she protested faintly. ““That’s why people like ’em,” he told ‘““'You never should have taken up this her. ‘If they wanted this home atmos- business,” he told her crossly; “ you’re not phere of yours they’d stay home.” aggressive enough. You need somebody to “J never thought of that,” she admitted sort of look after you, protect you.” miserably. She dropped her eyes. It was a pleasant “Take me for example, I have a home, word, vaguely familiar. all right, but I’ve been trying to break ‘Now I'll stay on here. You get rid of away for years. There’s something de- those young whelps. Too many of ’em moralizing about the thing—tell folks to anyway.” make themselves at home and they begin “The house isn’t very large,” she admit- telling you how to run your business.” ted meekly. “Those push buttons,” remembered “It’s large enough if there’s not too Amalie dismally, “I never did want them.” many in it,’ he said. ‘“ And look here. “Those girls—just because they’re my I’ve always meant to apologize to you for daughters they think they can treat me as_ speaking like that—the day my daughter if I were a mental defective.” came snooping around here.” ‘““T put those old mirrors down cellar on ‘Oh, but I understood. You needn’t—” purpose,’ confessed Amalie. “ But I do,” he persisted sternly. ‘I. “You’ve got to keep people in their apologize. I was very grateful to you.” places,” he averred. “Tm afraid 7 wasn’t very polite,” she _ “ And they were so jealous of each other. recalled thoughtfully. “ But I was so up- I wanted them to be like brothers.” set, you see.” “ Sounds like you had your wish,” he “Quite natural, too,” he said heartily. said waggishly. “Tf I'd known how matters stood, I’d have ‘T shall never do it again!” she told him taken a hand and settled those young pups emphatically. “I would starve first.” myself.” “ You don’t mean to say you’re going to If there was any inconsistency lurking in give up the house just when I’d begun to this announcement, the grateful Amalie get comfortable!” failed to discern it. “ But I thought—do you mean that you “Well,” she smiled, ‘I’ve learned my would stay?” lesson. After this, I shall keep things on a He grinned boyishly. purely business basis.” “Stay, I’ve just staged my insurrection! “Good!” he approved. ‘“ You have to You wouldn’t put me out now!” be on your guard with people like that. ‘‘ Well,” she was lost in thought, “of Give ’em an inch, they’ll take an ell. Like course I shouldn’t like to—” my own family. I’ve asserted myself once “ But you'll get rid of those three young and for all. Id like to see any one boss pups!” Though he gave it a lifting inflec- or dictate to me now!” tion it was more of an assertion than a “It’s the only way to keep one’s self re- query. spect,” Amalie concurred stoutly. ‘““J—JT expect they'll go now, anyway.” ‘“ By the way.” He smiled friendly down “Don’t you believe it. They won’t go upon her. ‘“ My name’s Kristy—Samuel unless you send ’em. They’re in love with Kristy—maybe yeu’ve heard of my collec- you!” tion—I collect fossils.” She looked up swiftly, cheeks dyed in “ Oh, do you!” she cried eagerly. “I’ve red. been wondering—” COMIC OOCKXS. Conn =