The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

132 He shrugged and began to attack an iced melon. ‘““T must go and pack now,” she said as they rose from the table. “I have decided to go to town this morning.”’ Finch looked at her in surprise and then recalling the tip on Aluminum Preferred and the money in his pocket, he decided that the city would be the best place for him, too. But, much as he would have loved to do so, he was unable to summon his cour- age to the point of saying that he would accompany her. For, not knowing that she had intended to depart, he had said nothing of going himself, and, in fact, had intimated several times in the course of breakfast that he did not know just when he would leave for the city. So now, having placed himself on record he could not gracefully retreat. But now that his wits were being sharp- ened by the grindstone of deceitful prac- tises, Finch was not long in hitting upon an expedient that would enable him to go with her to town. He waited by the desk with his bag packed until she appeared with her maid and then advanced hurriedly, smiling as though over the receipt of good news. In his hand he held a telegram. “ What luck, Miss Hamilton!” he cried. “T have just received word from Jack that he needs my assistance in closing with an important prospect. So, if you don’t mind I’ll accompany you.” ‘““ Not in the least,” she smiled. She had rather enjoyed toying with this bungling young man, who fancying that he was utterly misleading her, had in fact held most of his cards so that she could see them. She did not know the game he was playing, not in its details at least, but she did know what the stakes were. She was supremely interested in allow- ing him to dangle, if only for the pleasure of hearing him lie and of speculating what his next move would be. The trouble with Cecil Hamilton was that she underestimated Harold Finch, held him too lightly. For say what one ) THE ARGOSY. will concerning him, he was a man of strong personality and he actually did hold a certain power over women which many of her sex had come to realize only too well. If Cecil had but known it, her willing- ness to dally with him, instead of sending him packing, indicated that already he had established a certain sort of influence with her. As the train neared the East River tube he edged toward her so that their arms touched with the sway of the car. ‘““Miss Hamilton,” said he, “ we are shortly going to part.” He spoke as though the separation were to be for- ever. ‘I want you to know that the -hours I have spent with you have in- spired me—I shall return to business with renewed ardor, and soon’”’—he paused significantly before adding: ‘I hope you think well of me, Cecil.” This was too much. head swiftly. “Cecil?” she repeated. ‘“ Oh, I see you were addressing me by my given name. I know youll pardon me, Mr. Finch, when I ask if you will please not do that.”’ Finch smiled. ‘“ Cecil is a wonderful name,” he said, gazing into her face with brown eyes that had grown hard and metallic. “I like it, like to pronounce it. I don’t know that I'll be able to do as you ask. But of course I’ll try—Cecil—” He snapped his fingers. ‘“‘ There I go again!” He laughed, and she, in spite of her- self, laughed too. At the station, in response to his re- quest for permission to call, she nodded and almost threw herself into a taxicab, literally pushing him back as he tried to enter. “No! No!” Her voice rose in fierce intensity. ‘‘I wish to go home alone.” Undoubtedly, from sheer nervousness, she would have screamed had he persisted in his attempt to join her in the vehicle, so with a pleasant smile he stepped back and raised his hat. An hour later her maid entered the She raised her CORMICGLOOOKS (C@)