Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

580 ing the reason for volcanic unpleasantness of various forms, from theater panics to Bolshevism, we are bidden to delve down deep and find as an ofiginal cause the ig- norant, untutored mind. Conversely, then—since both Mary Em-_ erson and William Henning were decidedly intelligent and possessed a certain degree of culture—it might have seemed that in this rather awkward moment their two brains would have functioned calmly, read- ily, efficiently, making swift analysis of their problem and landing accurately upon. the very head of the correct answer. Instead, Mary_ merely stared up and Thomas merely stared down; and for sev-. eral seconds at least their countenances blazed with that high, compelling intelli- gence one finds upon the features of a half- grown oyster. Could there have been any- thing more blank and uninspired than Mary’s expression just then, it was the ex- pression of Thomas Henning. Yet shock works wonders sometimes. The first knock upon his door had dazed young Mr. Henrimg. This second one, coming with greater force, appeared to restore his faculties—and Mary, too, was coming around slowly, for she whispered, thickly and almost inaudibly: * Not—really Billy?”. “Yes! I saw him through the keyhole!”’ ‘Thomas hissed. “Tommy, if he ever finds me here—” “‘ He will not. I’m not going to answer that door!” e “ But if Billy’s really looking for me, he’ll know you’re here and he'll force his way in, because he’ll know you're here! He'll ask that fat janitor and the elevator- boy and everybody, and they’ll all say you're here! And when you don’t open the door, he'll know that—” ‘Hush, Mary!” breathed Thomas. ‘“ There may be something in that, too. I'll have to see him for a minute, I suppose. I—-well, get in there!” ‘In where?”’ “Through the music-room and into my little den, I guess!” young Ms, Henning said hastily, as he dragged a scarf and comb from the helmet and, rolling them up, thrust them unceremoniously out of sight ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. under Mary’s heavy breast-plate. ‘ There’s a closet in there and you'll have to get in. side!” “ But if he should hunt—”’ “Stand still! You're nothing but a suit of armor, of course!” said Thomas in his thrilling whisper. ‘“‘ We can get away with that! The den isn’t ready for use yet—the desk’s all wrapped in burlap and.the chairs, and even the rug isn’t down. Ready, Mary?” “For that horrible helmet again?” Mary faltered. The knock came even again! “ Shall we just let him in and take a long chance and have a show-down?” Thomas added, unsteadily. ‘Put it on, Tom! Please put it on!” said Mary Emerson, offering her lovely head for its iron covering. In the most absurd way, the room danced - about Thomas. He shut his teeth and man- aged to replace the helmet without a be- traying clank of metal; his hand went under Mary’s mailed arm again and cautiously, hardly breathing, he led her across the thick rug and to the thicker one of the music-room, and through that and across the little corridor to the room that some day—but for to-night—would have been the little den in which he and Dolly passed an occasional evening! But she was in there at last, even though the gentleman on the far side of the door seemed intent upon smashing a panel with his fist just now. Young Mr. Henning summoned his faithful smile and forced the choppy, gasping effect from his breathing. Then, hat and coat hurled soundlessly into the closet, Thomas opened the door of his home. Mingled with a touch of bore- dom, there was upon his face just the amount. of polite inquiry one should wear when opening the door of one’s home. But the crash would come now, in about two seconds! Bill would leap at him and clutch his throat and—or no, Bill seemed to have no such immediate intention. In- scrutable, apparently imperturbable, Wil- liam Emerson was regarding him with pecu- liar fixedness. Thomas opened his eyes in artless amaze- ment! His head was thrust forward sud- NOOK Original from 3 Q C(O OHIO STATE UN ol (S =) CO THE OHIO STA