The Argosy, October 1906 — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

eo ae Pi re to 20 to him.” =: = —_ ss “Certainly, certainly,” ee oe ~ Scales” absently. “Held on, Butter- Port, I haven’t moved yet. ter run along as fast as you can.’ _©Oh, thank you, sir,” said the ‘girl. <i. “o> =, ladies gets back.” =e “Eh?” cried Mr. Scales, suddenly Ze - with consternation writ large on every _ feature. ‘The baby? I’d forgotten all _ about that con—that blessed infant. You It’s out of the ques- “T must. go, sir,” replied Jane firmly. “Tt’s my dooty as a daughter.” “But I say you mustn’t!” cried Mr. cS Scales violently. ‘‘ It’s impossible. of this house you don’t go to-night.” Fire flashed from Jane’s eye, ang her lip ceased to tremble. Se Pu wish you good night, sir,” said; “and a kinder heart. __-your wife, I’m sure. The child’s in Mrs. __‘Trenter’s room,” she added as she went - out. “ You’ll be able to hear him if Ae ~~ -Avakes.” oe. With these ominous words she de- = parted, closing the door with unneces- . sary violence. ae With a pallid countenace, Mr, Scales heard her go to her own room and then her heavy footfall descending the stairs. ‘What are we to do?”’ he said, turn- silent but interested specasae of the do- -mieéstic drama. “We?” replied the other expressively. He took out his watch. “I don’t know what you are going to do, but I think I’ll have to be getting home.” ‘sudden ferocity. ‘ Jane may go, but I'l -_be darned if you shall. ‘back, our friendship ceases. Good | heavens, Butterworth,” he continued, in me at such a time!” The other was not proof against the pathos of this appeal. ; “All right,” he said resignedly. © eS Sick by you, but I don’t see what use I should be. Shall we go on with the game?” 3 ee - alive to the gravity of the situation, and ing to Mr. Butterworth, who had been a “You wort ! ” ‘Mr. Scales cried, with If you leave this house before my wife and cousin come ep I You’ 'd bet-— e ae sure baby’ll be all right till the ™* she — I don’ n’t envy ae tragic tones, “surely you wouldn’t desert : tiptoe, took a cigar from a box and. sound. es oe Out -other lugubriously. _ = jaw allowed his cigar to fall to the floor. chair. Mr. Scales ‘ciraeks is a “TT couldn’t. give proper attention | to” it.” he-said. === : —— Mr. Butterworth pushed his “ane badlic ae noisily. = ‘“What are we to i then? »: he de- manded. = * “We can make less noise at any. mee = replied his friend | sharply. “ For = heaven’s sake don’t wake it up.” 7 Mr. Butterworth, crossing the room on = | ee “IT suppose we may smoke,” he ah | in an exaggerated whisper. Mr. Scales, ignorimg his friend’s buf- foonery, followed his example, and | fer: half an hour the two sat puffing in = = silence, Mr. Scales starting at every “This is a inte “monotonous _ fora _ man of my laughter-loving disposition,” : observed Mr. Butterworth at last. “ [mr = - going to play a game by myself.” == He moved ov to ) the aboard and = began to set the pie —— ee “ Better come and tackle it, 2 het urged. = “The time will pass spicier me et ‘Nothing would make the time pass = more quickly for ‘me,’ "responded ues == Mr. Butterworth smiled. - ‘It was an = unfortunate smile. The relaxation of his ee He made a wild clutch to retrieve it, and == upset the little table reget the chess: = board. a if Se Ina despenis. “aot to save Ss eS = struck his: elbow against a vase, and the © ruin fell with a crash which might. have been heard half a block away. — “ Confound— “you, Butterworth ! EY cried . Mr. Scales, starting up furiously. % “You eee did it on purpose.” _- ss Mr. Butterworth’s = = : indignant > ——— t laine died on his lips, and the twomen = stood — gazing one _ each other, panic- a ee stricken. See eS <= eu ‘Overhead - — = Undetode- —_ Sar around, — = ? the air was filled with a. thin, -ventrilo-— = = quial wail, which seemed to come from 2 all the points of the compass at once. Mr. Butterworth: was the first. to a = Mr. Scales ‘threw himself back aa ed. ae CAnd afl bees” our | ung carelessness,” x he