Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

SUSPENSE. “ And it ’d be all right if we could say ‘Home, James!’ But we can’t. So I guess it’s us for the big, wide, open spaces, Andy.” CHAPTER VI. LOVE IN THE PARK. E diametered Columbus Circle and entered the leafy, light-strewn green of the park. They was nobody around, a wind blew cool from the east, combing the long grass on a little hill and bearing the restless roar of lions from the zoo. Overhead trees whispered to us as we passed and done a fantastic shawl dance in the light of the lamps. We come to a bench and Andy give the order to break ranks and squat. I done so, and we set there, silent, looking straight ahead at the blackness on the other side of the stone walk—just plain, complete, absolute blackness with no redeeming ray of hope. And my heart was such. After a while Andy felt for my hand and gripped it, desperate, like a drowning man would. And though it hurt, I didn’t feel it beneath the bigger hurt in my soul. The breeze blew from behind now, bring- ing the sweet cinnamon smell of a big bush, blossoming with yellow buds like dragon flies. And the fragrance crept deep down in my chest and swelled like a pain so that I had to do something or bust. “Well, anyhow,” I commented, sarcastic, “I can’t say that you ditched me at the altar,” He didn’t make no comeback at all, only sighed. “Well, why don’t you say something?” I erowled. : “I love you,” he obeyed me, sober. T smiled and relaxed. After all, they is nothing so magic as them three simple words. A man could pelt his wife, bruise her, choke her and bully her, but if he said he done it because he loved her—she’d spend her afternoons gadding around among the neighbors telling ’em what a wonderful man she drew, how much he adored her and would do anything for and toher. But let him attempt pelting her with roses, bruising her with diamonds, choking her — — ; SF a Ie ss nai —— : = <n Sore a ge ye =~ x Seen oe SS a ee with pearls and bullying her into accepting sables—without mentioning them three little words—and she'll be telling ’em out in Reno what a cruel and neglectful old Blue- beard she was anxious to be rid of. So I snuggled closer to Andy, almost happy again, and he laughed and brushed bis cheek against mine, but I pushed him away, kidding him. “Nix on the cheek-to-cheek, old Knight of the Garter,” I giggled, whilst stroking his stubby chin. “No nettle can touch me!” He grinned and cuddled me cute. I buried my head, sighful, but raised it im- mediate. Somebody was standing over us, _ Swinging a stick like a mad cat does its tail. It was another arm of the law. Andy and me separated like oil and water. “Listen here, bo,” commenced the cop, menacing, “‘ you ean’t pull this rough stuff out here this time of the morning. Unless you're anxious to get dragged in for spoon- ing you'd better take the girl home and eall it a day.” He strolled on, leaving Andy say the things he would like to of said in his pres- ence, “Tl call it a day all right,” muttered Andy. “Some day! I got enough trouble on my hands now without no damn—” “Andrew Gibbons!” I exclaimed. “ That’s a nice way to talk in front of your wife.” ‘Wife, is it??? sniffed Andy. “ Say, if that ain’t just like a woman! ‘Try to rea- son ’em into doing something sensible and they remain Miss Elsie Marie Corbett, if you please. But get yourself in wrong and they immediate elect themselves the wile. Ha! Ha!’ In the flash of a second my stout right palm had painted his left cheek red. And at that same minute the cop strolled back on the return trip. “For the love of liberty!” he breathed, heavy. “It isn’t spooning J’ll be pulling you in for, but assault and battery. Now, get, both of you, and don’t let me see you here again. In other words, move on!” I went, serene. Andy followed me, mut- tering but meek, while the cop watched our exit. We'd only made a couple yards when Andy turned. com ie Pak AN UBC Ae IGbDoOoks