Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

256 call go unanswered and Dora was not one of the few. She took down the receiver and said “‘ Hello ” in a small, quiet tone. ‘“ Hello,” answered a woman’s voice, “ is this Misteh Williamson’s home? Is Misteh Williamson theh?”’ “He isn’t,” Dora replied, and she felt her heart pounding in her breast. She was as sure as she had ever been sure of anything that the voice belonged to the woman who owned the handbag. She would have just that sort of voice, and she would speak in that affected way. “When will he be theh?”’ “Who’s speaking?”’ Dora asked. “T’ve been trying to get him foh several days,” the voice went on, its owner ignoring the question. ‘‘ He isn’t at his office to- day. I had his phone number, but I lost it. When he comes in, tell him to call Crest 8762.” “Very well,” Dora said and the circuit was clicked shut. Dora didn’t write down the number. She didn’t have to. The figures were engraved on her brain in fire. She determined again to~go out. She thought she wouldn’t come back. What was the use? She didn’t ever want to see her husband again. She felt that she couldn’t bear to have him near her. Again she put on her hat and this time she did not study the face in the mirror. _ If she had done so, she would have seen that the look of sadness had died out of it. In its place there was only indifference. She crossed the sitting-room without a glance around it. She reached the- door, and then it was thrown open from the hall. Her husband stood on the threshold. She had never seen him like this before, He was excited. His eyes were. ablaze from some inner fire. A chuckle escaped his lips. ‘“ Dora—” he began. Again the telephone bell rang. “ Bother,” exclaimed Henry and hastened _ over to the instrument. “When you get through with that call, you're to ring Crest 8762,” Dora said. “I thought I’d tell you. I’m going out.” Her husband looked at her with his lips dropped apart. He had never seen his wife in this icy mood. 2 THE ARGOSY. , ‘Hello,’ he said into the transmitter. ‘‘ Just a minute.” He covered the phone with the palm of his hand. “ Wait a min- ute, Dora,” he said. ‘ There’s something I want to tell you.” ‘““ Ah,” said Dora to herself. He was going to confess. Well, she might as well have the thing over with. She crossed the room and sat down. husband gave her a bewildered look and then turned his attention to the telephone. “Hello,” he said again. ‘“ Yes, Mr. Wil- liamson. Oh, yes, Mrs. MacArthur. That was you who called? Yes, my wife gave me your number. Oh, you were going out. Well, I just got in. “Lost your handbag with my number in it. Uhuh. Oh, yes. Well, I’m sorry but I’m afraid you’re just too late. I’ve sold what you wanted. No, I’m afraid not. Nothing you would want. I’m sorry.” There was silence during which Dora could imagine the affected voice conveying a message to her husband. She was aston- ished and then she was suspicious. This was doubtless a bluff on her husband’s part. He couldn’t talk as he wished to talk while she was there. She rose and crossed the room and laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘‘ T’ll leave if you wish to talk privately?” she said. . -Her husband stared up at her. spoke into the phone: “Well, it’s not my fault that you lost my number. I told you the day I talked te you that this property wouldn’t be on the market forever. No, madaim, I’m sorry. There is absolutely nothing left. Good-by.” He hung up the receiver and turned to his wife. 3 “Dora,” he demanded, “ what under heaven is the matter?” : ‘Who was that woman?” Dora asked weakly, for she was beginning to waver. That woman on the phone? Oh, may the good Lord deliver me from her and all Then he her kind, though a few days ago I was ready to grovel at her feet.” He began to smile, for he seemed to be so happy that even his wife’s coldness could not dampen his spirits. “Sit down, Dora,” he said, “ and Ill tell you all about it.” (E(0) vOoOK Her: EO