Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

156 meth opened the door at the rear of the shop, and then of a sudden, the full tone of the music reached them. By what strange coincidence was it that the musi- clans were playing a piece that had been popular in a musical comedy which had lived its happy days, and then passed on? Kenneth and the girl stood gazing at each other, almost awe-stricken, as they listened o “ The Message of the Violets.” ‘‘ What do you know about that?” asked Kenneth. ‘It’s the orchestra in the Pompeiian Room. We are in the Annex. Listen,” he continued, ‘it is too late for you to go home to dinner; won’t you dine here with me?”’ ‘From her manner he was afraid she was going to refuse, so he pleaded pathetically. “Do!” he urged. ‘ You don’t know what a sad thing it is to have to dine alone, and you can’t begin to realize how happy you would make me.” She hesitated, proposal. ' “ Please,” he begged, and his eyes were eloquent. Then the girl appeared to find something humorous in the situation, and she laughed. ‘“T’d love to,” she said. ‘“ I’ve never dined with a real live actor before.”’ “Actor! Actor! Because she saw me at Morrie Samuels’s, she thinks I’m an ac- tor,” ran through Kenneth’s mind, “ and ” the thought, persisted, ‘if she has-never dined with an actor before, she can hardly be an actress, after all. Then, who is she?” He shook his head in perplexity as they made their way from the florist’s shop into the dining-room. If coming events really cast their shadows before them, it is certain that Kenneth’s step would not have been so jaunty when they were shown to their table. The music was soft, the lights sub- dued. He had given the order for their dinner when a shade fell across their plates. He glanced up; so did the girl, ae she smothered a cry. Before them stood, wabbly to 1 sure, and flushed of face, the young man who had been the other principal in the affair at the restaurant that noon. He held to the table in an effort to steady himself. seeming to ponder the THE ARGOSY. ‘ Helen,” he said, ‘ get your things and come with me! Aren’t you ashamed to be seen dining with this—this—this actor person? To think of you doing such a thing!” Here was something Kenneth had not anticipated. He glanced at the girl appre- hensively. But already the shock of the sudden attack seemed to have passed, and her face betrayed no emotion. ‘“]’m surprised that you should forget yourself so far as to create a scene,” she said. ‘‘ Since noon to-day, Bob, we have traveled different paths. Please don’t annoy me any more.” ‘“ Helen!’ he cried, actually so, because in his self-pity the tears coursed down his cheek. The girl looked helplessly at Kenneth. “Be on your way,” he ordered, with pseudonymous levity. “Tl, I'll settle with you—later,” came back the threat from Bob. He made his devious way to a table on the other side of the dining-room, rejoining the husky youth who had been with him at luncheon. There they sat with their eyes on Kenneth and his fair companion. Conscious of this scrutiny, Kenneth found conversation difficult. He was ready to go when they had finished their dinner, and suggested as much. ‘“O no,” pouted the girl. ‘ You don’t mean to say that you are afraid, do you?” ‘Certainly not,” protested Kenneth. Nevertheless, all the music that the will- ing little band of Hungarian musicians coaxed from their instruments was rank discord to Kenneth Howard. This serious turn in the adventure was not altogether to his hiking. It was more than he had bargained for. The girl, however, did not seem to be in the least perturbed, and did not appear to notice that he was not sup- porting his end of the conversation. Per- haps he was not intended to have a very big part in the dialogue. His nods and monosyllabic utterances served admirably. Kenneth breathed with relief when the two young men, with many truculent glances in his direction, took their depar- ture. Soon the girl’s vivacity, her fund of small talk, held him once more. How her GOMIIG OOO SS (CO)