Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

414 inexcusable laugh, it seemed to Mr. Cran- ning, as he swayed against the table, and steadied himself. “Where is he?” Fred Budlong rumbled again. 3 Well—the game was up now! Look at it as one pleased, the game was up! Mr. Budlong had heard, from the neighbors doubtless, and he had drawn Dorothy’s own conclusions. So be it, then, since there seemed no other way for it to be con- veniently, James Cranning, really a model young person, was perched up here on the wrong angle of the triangle, with the exquisitely fine probability that Mr. Budlong had dropped in for the sole purpose of shooting him down! Perchance he had slaughtered pretty Irma before coming here? Per- chance—well, here he was, at all events, the outraged husband! Mr. Cranning summoned what might well be his final earthly smile as he stared at Mr. Budlong. The latter, usually so lazy and good- natured, looked exactly as James had al- ways fancied a man in his position might look. His eye was hard, and so was his breathing; little beads were on his forehead, and his rather loose, amiable mouth was compressed! All in all, nobody could have looked much less like the ordinary Mr. Budlong than did Mr. Budlong himself at this minute. Dorothy, her hands clasped tight to- gether, her cheeks snowy in their whiteness, ~ was just behind as Budlong stopped and stared at James. “ As—ah—to blaming Irma—” James began, as suavely as possible. “Never mind Irma!” Frederick puffed. “ VYou—” “ Well, as for me,” said James, and his smile grew impudent, and he folded his arms, “I guess I can take all that’s coming to me!” Dorothy winced. James only stood a little straighter. As well, you see, if one must die, to go out with a dashing, impu- dent smile like this. Although James could. not hold this one much longer. Since it must be, he wished that Mr. Budlong would get on with his shooting, and have it over. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Instead of hauling out his weapon and fir- ing, however, Mr. Budlong placed his big hands on his hips, and snapped: “ All right. Where is it?” “Huh?” said James. ‘“* Where is it?” “‘Where’s what?” faltered James. ‘“ Well, what do you suppose I’m talking about?” the caller demanded with equal amazement. ‘‘ Where’s my car?” “Oh!” said James, and although he had not at all intended to do this, he sat down, “ The—car!” Budlong gazed at him in blank astonish- ment, and then turned about, and consid- ered Dorothy; and after that, as it ap- peared, took some account of himself. And the glare left his eye, and the tightness his mouth, and Mr. Budlong smiled a peculiar sheepish, worried smile. “Say!” cried a voice much more like his own. “TI didn’t mean to scare the wits cut of you both, but—TI tell you, I’ve been working night and day lately, and I’m just all in. I’m full of twitches, and it seems to me that I’ve been getting mad at some one every few minutes theSe last hours.” ‘“ Er—everybody’s like that sometimes,” James said weakly, and waved a shaky, friendly hand. “Sit down, Fred.” 7 “Sure!” said Mr. Budlong, and sat down; and thereupon he sent in James’s direction as odd a glance as ever had reached that individual. Just one light- ning, suspicious dart it was, black and furi- ous—and then Budlong was smiling again! “It’s nerves, y’ know—overwork—all that! I just seem to fly off the handle for no reason at all. Why, when Irma told me she’d lent you that car—” ‘You were angry, of course,” Dorothy sighed. ‘Why shouldn’t you be?” “Here, now! I—I wasn’t legitimately angry, Dot,” Mr. Budlong said, almost ten- derly it seemed to James! “Lord! You know me well enough to know that I’d never begrudge you anything. Only I— I’m sort of attached to that car.” “Tt really isn’t badly broken,” Dorothy sgid piteously. “ Just the—” “Just one of the teeth on that gear down—” James supplied. “Yes. So Irma said. Why, I’m not | (E@) COMMICLIOOLKS