Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ET ~ it et Ps as SEVEN MINUTES AFTER. Robinett a, her see still in Araminta’s soft, cordial clasp, laughed softly. “f tele- phoned from next door,” she explained; “1 made a mistake in the house. They were having a dinner-party, and 1 caught sight of the women trailing out to the dining- room. It made me remember that 1 was not dressed, so I asked the man if 1 might telephone. I must ask your pardon for coming like this,” she added directly "to her hostess. Even Araminta laughed, there was some- thing so naive in getting as far as “next door,” and then remembering her lack. of suitable clothing. Tony grinned his wide, infectious grin. “Youre giving your brother away like everything, Miss Cortland,” he announced. “Hie made a pretty apology for himself, permitting you to come this way.” It was a merry party by the time dinner was announced. “ We haven’t enough men to go round,” said Miss —— “im afraid you’re left, Anita.” She smilingly took David’s arm. Tony, so hapry that he was now grinning foolishly, took Robi- netta on his right and Anita at the left. Somehow, with the coming of this slender, bright-eyed girl in street garb, an air of - gaiety had invaded the party. “Tm hunery enough to—” Robin paused suddenly as they crossed the hall, catching sight of herself in the mirror that ran from floor to ceiling in one corner. “ Why, I haven’t taken off my coat,” she said, the color rising in her cheeks; ‘“ and—oh, I am afraid Miss Letherby will think me too informal altogether,” she confided to Anita across Tony’s broad chest. “I only have riding clothes underneath this.” She touched the coat of covert cloth that buttoned smartly to her throat. | ‘No, indeed,” said Miss Ferndale kindly. ‘Miss Letherby is too happy to have you here. Let us drop the coat here in the hall. Simmons!” A young footman came forward and took the coat. Robin stood revealed in a fawn- colored habit that spoke eloquently of the West. The coat came down to her knees, and the smartly cut breeches fastened below it around the slender, rounded knees. Rid- ing boots that were ridiculously small cov- 2 ARGOSY more to add to my list. - i, ered the dainty feet and amkles, and little golden spurs clinked as she moved. It was not an Eastern riding outfit, but it was an Eastern tailor’s dream of what a Western habit should be, Anita’s trained eyes saw. And it was perfect; no need for Robin to apologize for her apparel. She seemed, in her slim, feminine boyishness, to have been poured into the clothes she wore, arid as she moved toward the dining- - room her grace struck Miss Ferndale dumb. How many New York girls could have appeared in such attire without being con- scious of it, she wondered. She was a young Diana, without Diana’s sternness. At the door to the dining-room, however, she paused again. ‘‘ Oh, please, when I have done everything else stupid, I’ve one I’ve left something —something really important, in the pocket of my coat. If the footman feels it he will b: scared; may I—” ‘Let me get it for you,” said Tony eagerly. ‘ Thanks; in the right-hand pocket; you - won’t miss -it.”” She waved Anita on into the dining-reom with an airy gesture, and waited for Tony with thinly veiled amuse- ment. Then her sight was caught and held by something that was happening in the back hall. She could see it all in the mirror. A grip~old and wrinkled and worn—was bemg taken up the back stairs on the top of a trunk, a little hand-made trunk with something familiar about it. The man hald- ing the back end stopped°a mement to adjust his hold and, turning slightly, dis- played the initials painted in pr imitive fashion on the end: 5. .. R. Robin read. Impulsively she ran forward and spoke to the servants in an authorita- tive tone. “Whose trunk-is that?” she said im- periously. One-of the men laughed. “It don’t be- _leng to no one, miss; it’s a new buy of Miss Letherby” S, that’ s all: sShe’ve a fancy for old junk sometimes. ” He hoisted the trunk again, Sheets the three letters to her closer, sight as he did so. Robinetta nodded and turned away, <S (6) GEomicboo