Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

BLONDE OR BRUNETTE. 157 eyes sparkled with enthusiasm when she touched on equal suffrage, the uplift work of the Drama League, the Russian Ballet; how pensive when she talked about is joy- ous and exciting life on the stage. ‘“You actors are like sailors, with a sweetheart in every port. I just know there is some girl in every one of a dozen cities who is just mad about you.”’ ‘“‘ Indeed not,” he said, but flushing with pleasurable conceit at the accusation. ‘“‘Oh, you can’t fool me,” she retorted. “But, tell me, and tell me truthfully— do girls really write you a lot of love letters?” ‘“T’ve never received one in my life,” he solemnly assured her, but she showed by her manner that she did not believe him. It was after ten o’clock when she signified that she was ready to go home. He was surprised to find it so late; the time had passed so quickly. Now, for certain, his day-dream of love would be soon at an end. The doorman called a taxi-cab and as they were about to step into the machine, Kenneth asked: ‘ Where shall I tell him ‘ Home, James’?” ‘“ No. 6 Lincoln Parkway,” she told him. Kenneth started—No. 6 Lincoln Park- way—the address certainly was familiar to him, but he could not recall what made it seem so. He ceased to give it any thought at all however, when two figures —now only too familiar to him—emerged from the shadow of the building and hailed another taxi. ‘No. 6 Lincoln Parkway,’”’ Kenneth ordered the driver, “ and go like ’ell.” They got the jump on the other cab, but not enough of a lead to take the interest out of the race. The girl soon discovered they were being pursued and knelt on the seat so as to watch the pursuing vehicle from the tiny window in the back of the car. She clapped her hands childishly and found no end of enjoyment in the situation. “Qbh-h, isn’t this exciting?” she squealed, clasping her dainty hand around Kenneth’s arm. It was as an electric shock, this action of hers to both of them, but in different ways. Under her soft touch his biceps hardened, and he was thrilled. His blood, which had become cold, as scenting impending disaster, it ran hotly through his veins. The feel of his taut muscles signified. strength and power to her, and still kneel- ing on the seat watching their pursuers, she looked down at Kenneth. ‘Your arm is like steel,”’ she said. “‘ You may have to make use of it. I should not have permitted you to come. Are you afraid?” ‘* Did you expect me to be?” “No,” she replied, ‘ but I always had imagined that actors, living the life they do, were soft and—”’ ‘‘ Listen, dear lady of the violets,” he whispered, catching hold of one of her hands, “I am an actor only in the acting I have done to-day in letting you believe me to be an actor. I am only an humble being of the work-a-day world. - For two weeks each year I am a faker, a pretender, a poser. I play that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and that from great, well-filled bags, a steady stream of gold has flowed into my pockets. As a matter of fact, I slave for fifty weeks to have my dream, and the ‘steady stream of gold is the bits of change I lay away every - Saturday.” The girl looked at him strangely. ‘ I’m glad you’re not an actor,” she said, and her eyes were luminous. ‘‘ Lady of the violets,” he continued. “I saw you for the first time this morning, I have never been in love. I guess I was never meant to be before, because when I saw you, all the forces of love that had been pent up for so long came into being, and my heart yearned for you. If you could only know!” | ‘Perhaps I do,” she whispered. ‘“ f saw you, too, for the first time, this morning.” “You can’t mean that—that you—” he cried increduously. She only increased the pressure on his arm. A speeding, bouncing taxi-cab, an ec- static lover lifted to glorious heights, a villian that pursueth! What more to make the most craven heart grow valiant? The heart of Kenneth Howard was sound and stout and true normally. Now, let even CoOnniclooolkks CO