Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE RESPECTABLE MANIACS. Why all that careful selection of a gown, of pumps, of perfumes? The girl’s toilet could not have been more painstaking if she had been a medieval princess, preparing for the arrival of a princely suitor from a far-away king- dom. When they descended the stair again, Kate was moving lazily around the kitchen, getting supper ready. The men were expected from the office at any moment, and Milly was becoming more and more restless. She practiced dance steps in the par- lor, ran upstairs to dab on more pow- der, flitted into the kitchen, but flitted quickly out when she saw that she might have to work, and finally estab- lished herself dreamily at the front window. Viola helped Kate. The meal was ready finally—five places set. Six o’clock, the time for the men’s arrival, came and went. So did seven, So did eight, and the women were won- dering and remarking: “I wonder where they are?” “ Funny that they didn’t phone or nothin’.”” “ Hope Al and Georgie are all right.” Still no word from them at nine o’clock. ‘The three bewildered, disap- pointed and worrying women had eat- en carelessly, and were now trying to still the restlessness and fears that op- pressed them. Kate, the most stolid of them all, dozed on the couch in the parlor and at last went to sleep. Her snores were the only sounds, for Viola and Milly had stopped trying to manufacture conversation. Milly, Viola noted with malicious pleasure, was the embodiment of “ all dressed up and no place to go.” If ever sheer, keen disappointment were written upon a vamp’s face, it was there on the face of Millicent Rawley. Viola could almost forgive Albert for worrying her with his absence, but, as the evening wore on toward mid- night, she grew less pleased with him, for to be forced to stay in this house 43 with these two shallow creatures was trying indeed. Yet she did not dare leave, since Al might show up at any minute—and if anything had happened to him he might be brought here. She pictured all sorts of things that might have occurred— subway accidents, sudden attacks of sickness, street accidents, holdups, brawls. By and by Kate stirred and woke up. “ Didn’t they come yet?” she asked heavily. Viola shook her head. “Gee,” complained Mrs. Archer, “ain't that a shame, though? We'd *a’ had such a swell time, too. Look at poor Milly; she got all fixed up. Kin yuh beat it?” She shook her head sadly and went to the window. Milly had been sitting there for a long time, and now she looked up as her aunt approached. “I’m so disappointed,” Viola heard her tell Kate softly. “I did want to see him again.” “Yeah,” agreed Kate compassion- ately. “ Ain’t ‘he the sweetest thing, though? Me, too. Gosh, if Georgie was like that—Mrs. Wade don’t know what a swell hubby she’s got.” She looked covertly at Viola over her shoul- der. ‘Maybe she told him not to come.” 3 Milly shrugged indifferently, as if Mr. Wade’s wife were an unfortunate blot on the map. The two women were in a little alceve or small sun parlor. From there, they did not think, evi- dently, that one could hear them in the parlor proper. That last remark was enough for Viola. She rose and went to the hall rack, and got her hat and coat. “Tm going,” she told them icily. “Tell Albert when he comes that’ I couldn’t wait any more.” “ Goin’ home?” asked Kate stupidly. She wanted to tell them just what she thought of them, she wanted to rush at them both and tear them apart EOPMICLOOKS (E@)