The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

26 him as he would have fallen at full length on the floor. “VYou’re a gentleman, sir!” declared the fellow heartily. ‘Friend of Delroy? All right, friend o’ mine, then!”’ Delroy strove to keep his countenance, but an angry red flamed in his cheeks. stiffly. “How do you do, Mr. Foxford,” Jerry murmured coldly, and was visibly irritated when the man ferced him to shake hands, “Mr. Hampton!” ‘exclaimed Foxford, “it’s a pleasure t’know you! Proud of it, sir, I ’ssure you! Oh, I say—Hampton? Hampton? I knew I’d heard that before. Say! ain’t you the queer Johnny that keeps chickens an’ grows turnips over in the heights?” Jerry was taken aback. The man was not drunk, in the general sense, but his tipsyness seemed sufficient to mitigate the impertinence. “T think you have placed me correctly,” returned Jerry quietly. “And now I must ask you to say good- night and leave us, Foxford,” Delroy broke in sternly. “Mr. Hampton and I have a business matter to discuss, and it won’t wait for mere social chatter. Some other time, you know.” : Foxford winked slyly at Hampton. “Delroy’s all for business, Mr. Hamp- ton,” he chuckled. “You take my advice, Mr. Hampton: you look out for ’im! He’s a wise guy, believe me! If you go selling him any chickens, you stick out for your price. If you can put one over on ’im, you let me know, an’ the drinks’ll be on me!”’ “Good-night, Foxford,”’ repeated Del- roy. He seized the man by the shoulders and propelled him forcibly into the hall and through the outer door. Jerry was gravely disturbed. The man, - in his present condition, was a foolish clown, a harmless nuisance, among men; but that Eugenia Delroy should have been subjected to the stigma of his society was an outrage. Toward Foxford himself he felt no more resentment than he would have felt toward any vulgar young cub who “Mr. Foxford, Mr. Hampton,” he said THE ARGOSY. might have forced himself upon the girl, ut for Delroy to permit such an arrange- ment as the unchaperoned theatre excur- sion was inexcusable. Delroy was nervous and ill at ease when he came back and found Jerry with a set, hard expression on his face. “T must apologize to you, Hampton,” he said, rather too flippantly, “for that lit- tle farce.” “Tt isn’t necessary,” Hampton replied coldly. “But I was surprised and embarrassed,” insisted the other. ‘Foxford is really a very good fellow; yes, a very good fellow, indeed! I give you my word, I’ve never seen him in his cups before! He’s a bright, well-connected, promising young business man. JI believe he rarely drinks. What astonished me and irritated me most was that he should have indulged him- self intemperately when in Eugenia’s com- pany.” “Ves,” agreed Jerry, without concealing a note of irony, ‘“‘that is the most astonish- ing part of it.” Delroy sat down and fidgeted with a paper-cutter on the desk. “T would hate to have you think,” he said, “‘that I am careless about my daugh- ter’s associates; that I don’t pay proper attention to her protection just as she is entering society, as it were; so I must confide a little secret to you, and ask you to respect the confidence.” Hampton raised his hand in protest. “Please don’t think, Mr. Delroy,” he said stiffly, “that I am assuming any at- titude of criticism toward your private family affairs. I am merely sorry that I happened to be a witness to—” “My dear fellow!” Delroy insisted, a bit too unctuously to please the other, “I would make apologies and explanations to any man that chanced to be present, in order to guard against a false impres- sion. I must tell you that, in a general way, Mr. Foxford has my unbounded con- fidence; so much so, that I shall probably announce the betrothal of my daughter to him before very long.” COMMUC ONOOLK (C@)