Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

57 MAIDENHAIR FERN Friday, the thirteenth, was Maman’s birthday— the champagne was in the bucket by CARYL BRAHMS re day long it had been stifling. Flowers fairly wilted before you could carry them home from the market. Horses were falling down in the streets. Sensible people stayed at home behind the jalousies. But with the cool of the evening, they too ventured forth and were to be seen sitting at the café tables fanning themselves. On his way home from the office, young Monsieur Gustave had dropped in to the Grand Café de l’Univers et de la Gare, as usual, and was sitting at a table with his friend, Monsieur Michel. The Café de Univers et de la Gare had been opened only a couple of years ago in 1893, and so was still the sensation of Dijon. “And you seriously mean to tell me that Monsieur Durand broke into your house in the dead of night to steal your Maiden- hair Fern? I can hardly credit it! ”’ “It was a very fine fern,’ Monsieur Michel sounded almost defensive. ‘“‘ The salon doesn’t look the same without it. I tell you, that fern had charactef! ” Young Monsieur Gustave consulted his watch, sifHed the waiter for his check, collected his hat and gloves. “ And you’re quite sure the intruder was Monsieur Durand? ”’ ‘“T got a good look at his face before he turned down the gas in the vestibule. I tell you, my Old, there is no possibility of a mistake.” His Old clicked a shocked tongue. “ Really,” he said, “ the things people do! ”’ At the gaunt lodging-house where he rented his modest and suitably inaccessible room, Monsieur Gustave stopped to speak to the concierge. As usual, she was sitting knitting in her office, a dark little cave at the foot of the stairs. It was mostly taken up by dog. But on the sill of the hatch stood a Maidenhair Fern that was clearly the pride of her heart. “Ah, Madame la Concierge, what news of your daughter? ” Madame la Concierge beamed. Monsieur Gustave was such a gentle gentleman. Ever a kind inquiry on his lips! “Ah, Monsieur Gustave, with these first accouchements you conmmicloooks.comhn)