The Argosy, October 1906 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

Se hy ‘be my shoulder.” Se ‘Thomas suddenly smiled behind his aos hand in spite of himself. “It’s hurt all over she is, I guess, AE ss remarked, as he went to capture his mis- = _tress’s restive mount, which was placidly = chewing ~ grass’ by the roadside in the -- very face “of the chugging red monster which had so frightened him. . The young man did not see Thomas smile. He was more intimately con- : _ cerned: in stroking the slim, pretty hand = “which had slipped _ its glove. He was. ee = busy. thinking what a nice hand it was _- when the Princess spoke languidly. | 7 “Perhaps, sir you could take me home. Were ce going far?” | “Not very far,” answered the young : = man. “And I will be glad to take you = If possible I: would like to ‘stop - first and let my employer know the cause of my delay. That is, of course, if you - feel able.” +“ Qh, yes, indeed,” said the Princess ZE “cheerfully, despite her painful accident. “Tm really all right. Just shaken up a bit, you know. But may I ask who eee. - ay a ee = es a me a ‘ 3 afl KE ai ; J : Ct $ ~ — v) your employer is? Perhaps I know him.” “Sure. His name is Mr. Eben Standard. You’ve heard of him, at any rate. Pretty nearly as rich as_ they make ’em, but a ney good sort for 8 that.” ‘Thomas,”’ said the Princess, ing to her groom, “this gentleman is— Mr. Standard’s secretary; he will take me home in his motor-car. You may go on with the horses. Oh, thank you!” This last remark was occasioned by Mr. Langford lifting her gently in his arms and placing her on the red leather seat next to the driver’s. She was glad he hadn’t expected her to sit in the ton- - neau. 3 “How did you know I was Mr. -__ Standard’s secretary?” he asked as soon = as they were fairly started. “I might be the chauffeur.” | “No, you’re not the chauffeur. I’ve seen him lots of times. He’s a little, greasy Frenchman and he wears a mus- -. tache which they would make him shave off only he’s uglier without it.” ~ Langford threw back his head and Jaughed gleefully. turn-— ~ “All right, _just dying to! = You re a fae Jittle ‘irl,” fi te ae = = ‘“‘and how comes it you are so familiar | = _ with the Standard family?” “Oh, we live about here, and gossip will get over the hedges, you know. Here’s the gate,” she continued, “and I’ll show you the way through the grounds, if you don’t know it. I’ve driven through many times, and strangers are apt to get mixed.” “CAN right, I'll be obliged to you. But it looks as though this road to es left leads straight to the house. sa ao ES “Oh, no, no, it doesn’t,” she cried hastily. “ Turn- quick, to your right! There! Why, you'd have got into a ‘perfect maze if you took | that — other road.” es ‘She leaned back cosentadly = as Thee. . bowled swiftly into the drive that was to take them remorselessly over those seven long miles before bringing aw at ae Standard’s front door. - ers ee Did I say seven /ong miles? eee ~ It seemed just seven minutes, but they. had chatted of a hundred ‘different sees and he told her his name and she told him a name that was not hers, and a=" all the time a wicked plan was evolving eS itself in the brain of the Princess. _ “Mr, Langford,” she said impulsive- = ly, “I want you to do something for me! be) S Anything in the world,” he assured her recklessly. - <G “ “et * a “ now that’s a promise. = s T’ve got such a jolly plan. You'll laugh when you hear it. Just take me in with you when you go, and introduce me to ~ Mr. Standard as your cousin. I want «— to see the inside of their house. Pm ~~ And then when you are Ss through with your work we can roam around and enjoy ourselves a bit be- fore you take me home.” : ~ A troubled line spread itself over the forehead of the young man and eg Sm fidgeted uneasily. “Td be glad oe rs to,” he siamunered “but there are lots of reasons wi : = couldn’t do that, you know. First, it wouldn’t be fair to Mr. Standard, would — it? And, then, your people would CRESS = = tainly worry about you = es The Princess put on her prettiest pout, 2 which the King never could resist, this new man found it ee ard to 0. See