Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

962 little,” insisted Annette. “I want to talk to her so she won’t be lonesome and [ want to be sure that she has a nice room,” So they finally let her go. It was a strange, dashing ride through the noisy streets. Lights flashed in their faces. The ambulance bell jangled and the traffic seemed to divide like magic to make a way for them. Policemen waved them past stop signals. People turned to stare after them curiously. One interne drove and the other sat back at the end door, sedate and silent. Miss Benjamin clutched Annette’s hand like a frightened child. And Annette, leaning over, saw the drawn look gradually softening in the thin white face, the fear fading from the tense dark eyes. “You'll be all right in a day or two, Benjie,” Annette assured her. “ And then you’ve got to take a good long va- cation. I’ll make madame give you one. Pll tell her I won't stay unless she does. ‘You can go to the country. I know a darling little farm up in Connecticut. And I'll come up and see you week- ends. “Money? Don’t you worry about money. I make quite a little weekly dough, as you realize. Tips and all. I'll help you out and so will madame. We'll be glad to. The farm’s cheap, anyway. I'll bring you some maga- zines and novels to-morrow. You— you just want to relax, Benjie, and take things easy. You've been working too darned hard.”’ The. ambulance lurched up to the hospital gate and Annette walked be- side her friend as the internes carried the stretcher up the front steps, up a shadowy stairway inside and down long corridors into a clean, bare room that smelled faintly of medicines. “Oh, look, Benjie!’ cried Annette. “ You've got a tree right by your win- dow. Isn’t that gorgeous? Nice little room, too. I’m sure you'll like it here.” She bent and touched the wan fore- head with her lips. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “See you later,” she grinned and went out, down the narrow corridors. Tears sprang into her eyes but she winked them back resolutely. She felt terribly tired and shaky all at once. She must get home and get something to eat. Her head felt absolutely woozy. And she had forgotten how they turned in the corridors and now she came up against a wall instead of a doorway. She whirled about and bumped vio- lently into a man who seemed to be coming after her. “Oh, I—beg your pardon!” stam- mered Annette. “ [ was—trying to find the way—out. Could you please—show me?” “Sure, [Ull show you.” Annette jumped like a scared cat. It was Jer- ry’s voice, and he seized her by the arm and marched her along in a very stern, professional manner. “Well, how did—you happen to come?” she asked. “I came after you,” he told her. “You're all nervous and upset. You'll be right where that woman was if you don’t look out.” Annette dabbed at her eyes with a stringy handkerchief. “Well, naturally, [—I was a bit up- set—over Benjie. Anybody would be,” she admitted stiffly. “ But you—you don’t need to worry!” Her voice registered scorn. And she looked up at him resentfully, but met the eager, hungry look that she’d seen in his eyes when he had almost asked her to marry him. Annette looked down, quickly, straightened her hat and pulled at her damp, wrinkled blouse. “[—I’m horribly messy,” she ob- served apologetically. The grip on her arm _ tightened. “Yes, and thank God for it!” blurted Jerry. “Tve found out at last that you re—human!” * Human ?” “Sure! I thought you were damned hard-boiled.” COPMICGLOOKS (C@