Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

QUEEN OF CLUBS. McQuissick must have been waiting on the other side of it. She ran in gasping. ‘Oh, what are they, Mr. McQuissick?” ‘* Newspaper photographers, miss. They’ve been hanging about the house all afternoon.” . Carola dropped on a hall chair, and laughed weakly at her own fears. Such was the beginning of her fame. Almost immediately the doorbell rang again. ‘* This will be the reporters,” said McQuissick grimly. “ They’re waiting, too.” A fresh panic seized’ on Carola, “I shan’t see them,” she said quickly. Then she remembered Breedon’s advice. “ Yes, I will see them. Oh, Mr. McQuissick, what should I do?” McQuissick scratched his head. ‘‘ Darned if I know,” he said helplessly, “ I’m not the one to advise a young girl. You ought to have a—” , Carola jumped and stamped her foot. “Don’t you say chaperone, or you and I will no longer be -friends!” McQuissick grinned. “ Well, I'll see the newspaper men for you,” he said. “This story has got to be contradicted.” He pulled a newspaper from his pocket. It was one of the small newspapers full of pho- tographs that Carola had seen on the news- stands, but which had never come to the house. She had been led to understand that they were not nice newspapers, but they looked exciting. “What is that?” she said, taking the paper. “ Go into the drawing-room and read it,” said McQuissick. ‘“ I’ll see these guys in the library.” When Carola unfolded the sheet she was astonished to find a large photograph on the front page. Where could they have got it? Over the photograph in staring black letters was the caption: TWENTY MILLION DOLLAR HEIRESS SHOWS HER SPUNK Then in letters just a little smaller: Carola Goadby Makes the Fur Fly How unspeakably vulgar! What fol- lowed was a garbled and sensational ac- 5385 count of the scene in her house that morn- ing. As she read on a red spot appeared in either cheek, and her eyes glittered. She was represented as a perfect little ter- magant. Infamous! story got in the newspaper? Then a phrase gave her the clew. It had evidently been carried to the newspaper office by one of the discharged servants, who had no doubt been paid a good price for it. Oh, infa- mous! Carola was so angry that she opened the door and marched into the library with the paper in her hand. McQuissick was in the act of explaining to the assembled reporters that Miss Goadby couldn’t be seen, when she appeared. He threw up his hands, and the reporters laughed. There were about a dozen men of assorted ages and conditions, and a sprinkling of women. They immediately began to bombard Carola with questions. It was utterly confusing. She looked at McQuissick for help. “Hey, cut it out!” he cried, waving his hands. “One at atime! One at a time!” The reporters consulted among them- selves, but appeared to be unable to come to an agreement. Finally the oldest man appealed to Carola. “ You choose one of us to interview you, Miss Goadby.” Carola looked them over; the women she did not care for; they looked too sure of themselves. Of the men her attention was attracted by a good looking young fellow not so many years older than herself, who was frankly posing to catch her eye. He had an engaging grin. “You may question me,” said Carola. He flashed a triumphant look at his con- freres. ‘ I see that you have read the story about yourself in the Globe,” he began briskly. “ Is it true?” By this time Carola had got her head again. “ Do I look like that kind of per- son?” she asked. There was a general laugh, and the whis- pering of pencils. “ Didn’t you fire your servants?” asked the young man. “TI did,” said Carola. “ Evidently this newspaper buys its news from discharged servants.” “Easy! Easy!” whispered McQuissick behind her. ‘“‘ That’s libelous.” Gomichbooks How on earth had the © (E@)