Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

234 was considered a horrible example of American impudence and parvenu contempt for law. Although wilder and more expensive festivities had occurred that same night in London, they lacked the picturesque character of the orgy in the drab pur- lieu of the police station. It happened that the police department had sold the building and it had been rented for the evening for less than the cost of a pri- vate ballroom in a big hotel. That did not figure in the outburst of public indignation. Questions were asked in parliament about it, sugges- tions were made in sensational news- papers that the perpetrators be put in jail, or at least that the insolent Yan-— kee be deported. Renée Prévost’s press agent seized upon the incident to exploit his star and to couple her name with that of Dick Boswell; and Dick, himself, writhed under his disgrace. Yet it had been a mild affair. Two score guests had attended the party, were playfully locked in cells and then released to dance upon the main floor of the cell house. An orchestra uniformed as _ police- men had played, waiters dressed as policemen had served. Several vaude- ville comedians had appeared as drunk- ards and sneak thieves, and an 1im- promptu mock trial was held in which Renée Prévost was the judge, a dozen actresses the jury, and the prisoner, Roger Tuttle, was sentenced to marry the bouncing blond chorus girl whom he had escorted to the party. There had been much gayety and no driinkenness, and it was all over at two in the morning, yet the sensitive British public was boiling with indig- nation. The following afternoon Dick was called upon by a man from Scotland Yard, a very polite but determined per- son with cold gray eyes and a mouth like a steel trap. ~ “T have been requested to inform you, sir,” he said, “that the police de- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. partment will not tolerate any more pranks like that of last night.” “We violated no law,” protested Dick. “It isn’t that, sir. You have vio- lated good taste. The way things are, with this country on the verge of star- vation, no wealthy American ought to come to London and flaunt his dollars in our faces. You're lucky that you are not about to be escorted to a liner for America. We have the right to put anybody out of England who is objectionable, whether they have vio- lated the law or not.” “Indeed. I would suppose you would consider it a good thing to have an American here spending his money freely. I gave work toa score of Eng- lishmen last night and purchased a lot of English food and drink.” “The fact is that we don’t like Yan- kees in London any more,” replied the detective. “If you had given your party in a regular manner it would not have been noticed, but you reflected upon the police, and. the newspapers have made a fuss about it. I mav say, sir, that only the intervention of a very important person saved you this time from deportation.” “May I ask who intervened in my behalf?” “I’m told, sir, it was Sir Augustus Tuttle, himself. Your particular crony is his son. I assume that was the rea- son.” “That was very nice of Sir Augus- tus,” said Dick. “Furthermore,” continued the de- tective, “you are advised to lie low for a few days. If you are pointed out and recognized in a public place it may go hard with you, sir. The people are very resentful. No Ameri- can can come over here and flout our British institutions with impunity.” Dick grinned. “I’m much obliged I’m sure. Are they likely to tear to pieces my companion in crime, Roger Tuttle?” “Certainly not, sir. He’s not an (O) Gomichbooks