The Argosy, September 1915 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

ONE-CYLINDER SAM. Chalmers to say, but she was in a savage and exasperated mood. She was far more disturbed over the ab- sence of the bracelet than Reggy him- self, but she could neither betray nor explain that fact. She would have given a small slice of her ample fortune if it were only upon her arm at that moment. ‘Second hand!’ snorted Reggy. ‘“ Second hand because a princess wore it? That’s the first time you ever pulled that stuff on me.” “ Reggy!” ‘Oh, well, those are my sentiments at any rate. Perhaps they’re not very elegantly expressed. But honestly, Rosalind, I’m sore. I think you might wear it once ina while. Will you wear something else for me, if I get it for you? A ring?” “Oh, don’t begin again, Reggy.”’ “T’m just picking up where [ left off. Rosalind, why won’t you marry mes~’ ‘ Because I do not choose to.” “But you know I love you.” Rosalind nodded her head wearily. “So why not?” he persisted. “ Reggy, you are positively dense,” she said hopelessly. “ Am I to marry aman just because he loves me? Sup- pose I do not love him.” “Well, you can come as near to loving me as you can anybody, I guess. I wouldn’t expect you to love me a great deal. I don’t think you're that kind.” “You mean, I suppose,”’ she said coldly, “that I am incapable of affec- tion. “Oh, come; not like that, you know,” broke in Reggy stumblingly. “ But—well— Oh, fF can’t put it the way it ought to be put, Rosalind. Of course you could love anybody, if you wanted to. But what I mean is, that You're not apt to.” “Thank you for making it so clear, Reggy.” “And I'd be willing to get along with just—just—” Just toleration, I imagine.” 297 “ Yes, toleration!’ he blurted. ‘“ So long as it was from you.” “Well, ’'m not in a tolerant mood at present,” said Rosalind. “ Will you take me back to the hotel? ”’ “Will you dance with me?” “T think not.” “Will you wear the bracelet then? ”’ “ Well—perhaps.” As they moved away. the boatman stepped from his hiding-place. “Bracelet,” he muttered. ‘“ That’s funny now. I wonder if it could be the one.” CHAPTER XV. WHEN SAM CAME IN HANDY. E, waited until Rosalind and her gloomy suitor passed from view, then made for the hotel by another entrance. The door by which he ob- tained access to the building led into a broad lobby, where superior clerks yawned behind a counter that resem- bled a bar, and where there was a news- stand, also other details of hotel-equip- ment arranged with a view to reducing the amount of Federal reserve in in- dividual depositaries. Sam walked through the lobby at a casual pace. He was at ease with a cigarette between his lips. The make- up had been tested and had not yet buckled under the strain. None save Rosalind had paid the least attention to the tie, which argued powerfully for its propriety. At the farther end of the lobby was a great glass case, supported upon a table. Within the case were many things. The boatman viewed them de- liberately. The variety was rather extraor- dinary. There were things made of leather, of linen, of silk, of worsted, of metal and of stone; things that were old, others that were middle-aged, still others that were palpably new; things that were ugly, arrayed beside things that were pretty; big things, little things, nondescript things. Some of COPMICOOOKS (E@)