Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH. ing his bride tightly to him and they were whispering! A great sigh of relief escaped William Hervey. He played a little tune on the push-button and turned away as_ they parted suddenly and, together, hurried to the doer. ‘“ Oh, I beg your pardon, I’m sure!” said William blithely. ‘‘I’m the man who is going to live next door. My name ts Hervey.”’ With a hearty thrust, Mr. Elton’s hand went out and William gripped it. “ T say, we’re awfully glad to know you!” Mr. Elton stated. ‘‘ Our name’s Elton, in here!” “Then I’m tickled to death to make your acquaintance, Mr. Elton,” William laughed readily. “And my wife,”’. added the gentleman. “Where are you, sweetie? Oh, there you are! This is Mr. Hervey, our new neigh- bor-to-be.”’ Quite superfluous, of course, was this last introduction. Mr. Elton did not know that, nor was there anything about Anna- bel just then to cause him even a flutter of suspicion. Glowing, lovely, Annabel hurried forward to.shake William’s hand. “I’m so glad to know you!” she said simply. ‘It’s fearfully goed of you to run in like this!” “Ts it?” laughed William. * Yes, really. We were so afraid, com- ing up here, that people might not be neighborly. You’re moving in?” “Oh, not yet by any means. I’m not even married yet!” - Mrs. Elton clapped her hands in glad surprise. “Oh, how lovely!” she cried. “ Then there'll be two silly honeymoon couples side by side!” “You two—” William protested unbe- lievingly. “Only three weeks!” laughed Mr. Elton and went so far as to slip an arm about Annabel. So it was all right! The lie had gone over to perfection; nay, as a successful untruth it was not too much to say that this one of William’s had gone over with a loud, resounding crash. The adoring Jackie In fact, suspected nothing—nor would he ever sus- pect anything now! The episode was closed and just as rapidly as he could make a de- cent escape William would flee and resume the journey he should have completed be- fore dark yesterday. He grew businesslike. ‘“T thought I saw a man moving around‘ in here, when I was ever there at my house. I wanted to ask you about the morning trains, Mr. Elton.” ‘What time do you want to make town? About nine?” ‘“‘ About that.” ‘“There’s a dandy train out of hese at’ eight-nine—runs all the year round and they put on cars enough so that everybody. has a seat.” “ Fine!” ‘You stop here for me the first morning you go down and I'll show you how to capture the best spot in the smoker,” sug-, gested the friendly Elton. “‘ Up for the day, Mr. Hervey?” - “Oh, no!® William lied cheerily. “I had to bring up some odds and ends and it was such a. wonderful morning that I thought I’d do it before I settled down to work for the day. Ill have to’be getting back, too. Thanks for the dope about the trains and I’m very pleased to have met. you both.” —* It was enough, of course. He edged away. He had done his duty and all was well—every glance from Annabel told him that; every grin of her Jackie’s bespoke | a man happy and wholly at ease in his mind. Yes, it was more than enough ant now William would flee. He reached the edge of the veranda, while. the Eltons stood in the doorway. —s Elton nodded and smiled. ‘““ Next time you turn up I may be more normal,” he said. ‘‘I mean, not so shaky and white about the gills if I’m still that, I’ve had an infernal scare!” “A scare?” William echoed politely. Elton shook a finger at his bride. “That little woman there!” he said ac- cusingly. “I thought she’d dematerialized completely!” William’s inquiring stare grew more polite and puzzled.