The Argosy, December 1905 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN “Youll do some getting out your- self!” Dunean, too, had left his chair. For once he was going to act as his own nature dictated. With a bound he was upon the other and had grasped his arm. He whirled the infuriated man about and sent him spinning toward the door. He followed quickly, and as Chambers came to a standstill, snarling and clutching at the air, he seized him again, and with a forceful kick dashed him through the doorway and into the corridor. The second vice-president sprawled - for an instant, then rose quickly and glanced about. He was very quiet now and his lately purple countenance had blanched. “ Mr. Alvin,” he said, “‘ this has come to be a personal matter, I see. We'll omit the courts, and—I’ll settle with you myself.” He walked quickly to the door of his own office and disappeared. Duncan returned to his chair, warm and breathing hard. Had he done the wisest thing in lay- ing violent hands on Chambers? He bit his lips and stared at the desk. And very shortly he knew that he did not care particularly whether or not he had acted judiciously, and that if Chambers came again and repeated his exhibition of frenzy, something of the same sort, but rather worse, would happen to him. Not many minutes after the encoun- ter, and just as Duncan was cooling down, Morley hurried in. The secre- tary’s face was puzzled and not a little worried. “ Alvin, what under the sun have you done to Chambers? ” “1 kicked him out of the office.” “ Y ou—what? ” “T kicked him out of this office, and I’m sorry now that I didn’t give him a bruise or two to remember it by.” “You didn’t—Alvin, whatever pos- sessed you?” “See here, Morley!” Duncan faced him squarely. “That person came here for the purpose of recalling some of my past.. He demanded that I break my engagement and leave town in a hurry.” “ Break the engagement! ” 8A MASQUERADE. 113 “* He wishes to marry Miss Morrison, I believe.” Morley whistled in amazement. “Later on, when I called the bluff, he threatened to break the engagement for me and force me out of here, even if it became necessary—as he delicately put it—to strangle me with his own hands. “THe thrashed around here like a madman for a few minutes, and—he left quite suddenly. . If he tries it again, the same thing will be repeated.” “But, Henry, you—you were a little bit wild, you pon People remem- ber.” “So I perceive, but did I ever do any- thing to deserve strangling?” Duncan asked with tart interest. “And you know what Chambers is, too!” the secretary continued, frowning in annoyance. “ He isn’t a man to stir up, Henry. He “Well, neither am I!” “I know, I know; but you’re a man, my boy, and Chambers is a—a brute, when he’s angry. If he’s in one of his furies, the only thing is to let it work itself out and pay as little attention as possible. He never forgets, and— pshaw! I wish you had acted more diplo- matically.” “JT am not grieving over it.” “But you’ve never seen enough of Chambers to appreciate what he is, Henry! He springs distinctly from the so-called lower orders, and under all the polish he has contrived to acquire he is as brutal and passionate as any laborer employed by the International.” “You think I’m in physical danger, do you?” Duncan asked, with a little sneer. “I—don’t know. Honestly, my- boy, if you have roused him sufficiently I’m not absolutely certain that you are not. I’m sorry 3 “Then suppose I swear out a warrant and have him locked up for threatening me?” Morley flushed with horror. “Henry! Henry! Don’t think of such a thing! Consider what the scan- dal would mean to the International. We'll have to keep up every appearance of peace here or COMmMICLOoOolkX (C@