Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE Of course, Zelda—always inquisitive about the young musician—had learned of Sophia. But she had not seriously re- garded the bookshop girl as a rival. Once let the Echo give her fair play, and she easily could dispose of that ‘‘ insignificant little kid ’—-with whom Alan had become engaged before he had met /er. Zelda had full confidence in. her own irresistible charms. But to-night she was out of sorts. She had been given extra work. So had all the others—for the Echo was on a “ rampage,” and was driving everybody to the limit of their various abilities. Nevertheless, Zelda felt that the Echo was especially “ taking it out on her ”——for obvious reasons; and she was aggrieved. In her present humor, therefore, she be- came suddenly and fiercely jealous of the bookshop girl, whom Alan was about to favor with a visit—after spurning ‘er. But, next door to the bookshop, Alan had halted. He stood undecided for a moment, then turned to retrace his steps. His courage had faltered; he miserably had compro- mised on seeing Sophia the following morn- ing, when he would be able to think and talk more lucidly. “Got cold feet about telling her; has he?” shrewdly conjectured the girl of the rose. ‘ Well, J ain’t afraid to see her—and I’m going to, p. d. q.!” But first Zelda walked to Avenue A, and bought a newspaper. With this, unobtru- sively folded, she coolly entered the book- shop. Sophia, who had been moving nervously behind the counter, glanced sharply at the door as it opened; then looked doubtfully at this visitor—hardly a patron of books. She was a stranger to Sophia. Sauntering toward the bookshop girl, Zel- da inquired in a casual tone: | “ Beg pardon—haven’t seen Alan Dmit- rieff, have you? Thought I saw him come in here.” “ Alan? Why, he’s not—out; is he?” Sophia exclaimed, with painful eagerness. The visitor placed a shapely elbow on the counter, and smiled insolently across at this flustered little clerk. “You don’t suppose anyone who works ARGOSY. for the Echo would stay jugged; do you? Haven’t you seen this?” pointing out a column in her newspaper. ‘“ Charge against music student quashed,” Sophia read. ‘‘ Madame Reitelman—Ira- . wadi Ruby restored—declares arrest a mis- take. The famous concert singer, known also for her devotion to charitable work—” but the girl’s incredulous, horror-stricken eyes refused to follow this cleverly satirical account of a crime neatly whitewashed. “He didn’t do it. This is a cruel insinua- tion!” she gasped. ‘“ There must actually have been a mistake.” “Yeh; some ‘mistake ’"—when a guy gets caught fair and square with the goods,” Zelda laughingly scoffed. ‘ Believe me, he’s lucky. The law don’t let a man off, with such evidence against him—even if the private party concerned does soften up and want to forgive the guy. It’s a crime against the State.’’ ‘““How could Alan have got off, then?” ‘““ Search me, dearie. Alan had about one chance in a million to keep out of the pen. Someone must have worked like h—1 for him. And ‘the Echo has some influence. I'll say she has!” ‘“But why should she do all this for Alan?” panted Sophia. “Little girl ask me something easy. I don’t even know that she did. Only, since Alan’s been playing at the House, the Echo comes down-stairs, nights, and hangs ’round just to hear him—something she never did before. And all the others gets paid by the cashier; but I hear Alan goes right to her private office to get His money. “Say, it’s none of my business—’least, I’m not going to let it worry me. But, you bef your sweet life, Alan hasn’t come brag- ging to me about getting out of the cooler. And I’m looking for him.” ‘““ Who—are—you?” almost screamed the bookshop girl. The visitor leisurely removed her arms from the counter, and, turning to go, re- sponded coolly: “Me? Oh, I’m from the House of the Echo, and Alan’s my particular friend— when the Echo’s not around. dearie.”’ . Although Zelda was not aware that she EOPNICGLOOOKS So long, con