Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

623 “ You come, then,” she directed Beasley and started, with her two companions to- ward where the plane had disappeared. Beasley followed with the other servants hard upon his heels. Ten minutes later, badly winded, the party trooped onto the fairway where the aerial visitor had come to rest. Its single occupant, a lanky, weather-beaten young man, sat huddled on the grass, nursing his right knee and casting rueful glances at the machine, which seemed quite intact, notwithstanding its fall. To the eager questions—‘“ Are you hurt, what happened, anybody with you?”—he replied: “My knee’s used up some, but I guess she'll be all right in a minute. Bones not broken. Something fouled my rudder wires. Ain’t had a chance to look yet to find out what it was.” They stood about him, properly con- cerned, but obviously relieved at not hav- ing a corpse to deal with. At least the in- cident had furnished a break in the monot- ony of the afternoon—a monotony that would not normally be broken until Otis J. Pyle should arrive with his inevitable guests and start swinging the cocktail shaker. The aviator tried his leg, gingerly, stood upright. ‘‘ Not so good,” he said with a grimace, “not so good. But I guess I can travel.” He turned to the machine whose mark- ings labeled it as the property of the Amal- gamated Airways Company, and began to examine his rudder controls. For ten min- utes he worked and finally announced: “T’ve got it. Now she’s all right.” “Will you come to the house and have a drink—or something?” Mrs. Pyle invited. ‘“Vour nerves must be shaky after that ex- perience.” “No, thank you,” he told her. “I’m testing out this bus and they will look for me to be coming back. Much obliged, though. Hope I didn’t muss up your place too much.” ~ “Not at all.” The company withdrew as the airman made his preparations for flight, and looked on in admiration at the difficult feat of tak- ing off alone. But presently the motor ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. roared, the plane sped across the smooth ground and swept into the air. : Il. THE group of servants was well in the van as the party returned to the house. Mrs. Pyle said: ‘“‘ Thank goodness he wasn’t killed!” “I’m almost disappointed,” giggled Miss Rehne. And Mrs. Sewickly Browne de- clared: “So am I. All our tramp for noth- ing.” But if they regretted the lack of excite- ment on the links, they found a-plenty at the house. They had fifty yards to go when Tessie, Mrs. Pyle’s personal maid, came bursting from the door, white-faced and pop-eyed! “Oh, Mrs. Pyle! We’ve been robbed! The house has been robbed!” It seemed as if Tessie was about to swoon. Mrs. Pyle grasped the girl’s shoulder, shook her none too gently. ‘What do you mean—robbed?”’ she de- manded. The other women squeaked inco- herently and quickened their pace. “Your room, madam! The safe! come!’ The other members of the staff were mill- ing about in various stages of hysteria and Beasley was trying to quiet them when the lady of the house strode through the door. She had herself well in hand now. Her jewels were insured and Otis J. Pyle brought home a hatful of money every night, any- way. Already the lady was getting a fine kick out of the business. Miss Rehne, too, appeared to have at- tained her calm. Her gems also were in- sured. Of the three, Mrs. Sewickly Browne looked most worried. There was a new diamond bracelet in her jewel case which she had neglected as yet to protect with in- surance against theft. A very few minutes sufficed to reveal what had happened. The thief or thieves had made a clean sweep. Certain bits of jewelry that the three women had left ly- ing carelessly on dressers or in drawers had been gathered in; Mrs. Sewickly Browne’s jewel case which had been locked in her Please (e(0) DOOKS AMI €or