Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

es to Kitty increased, so the warmth and radiance of the billow that sur- ‘rounded them increased. The color had come back into her face now—a deep, rosy flush that reminded him of Johnny. He watched her fingers fly and then filled his own hand and tried it, but hopping beans instantly surrounded him and he threw up his hands. “There,” he said between laughter and “see how they act for me?”’ Kitty did not laugh, but demonstrated “You take too many at a time. If you fill your hand right up, then when you open it, some fall out and when you have so many you are bound to knock out some good ones.” Springtime tried again and found that when he did as she advised he had much better luck. The beans that skipped about him could be numbered by the dozens in- stead of by scores. Kitty watched him and gave him another pointer. “Spread your hand out fiat—as flat as you can.” Springtime obeyed and found that it was still easier. After a few minutes of careful concentration, he found that he could actu- ally take a handful of unculled beans and #get them into their proper measures without losing one. When he had got that far, ee bands and got up from the =e shoulders ache!” * Don’t go,” pleaded Springtime as he saw the deep golden haze beginning to pale just as it had on the porch. “I won't do a lick more unless I have you here to cheer me on.” Kitty shook her head and went | i Start now. You won't uy to escape—if I leave the door un- eters “It does make your THE BIRD OF PASSAGE. ** About this Johnny,” she said. “ Wecer tainly ought not to let a lad like that stop us. How much do you know about where he lives?” “It’s a white house with an iron dog in the front yard and it’s in Ohio State some- where. And the town has a ball team. That’s all I know.” ‘H-m, that ought to be enough! How about letting the old sleuth take a whirl at getting him home? The old sleuth being “ Fine! me.” “ Fine!” said Springtime. Fly to it—I’ll give you my blessing.” “Well, there ought to be some way,” said Kitty. “ Women are all natural born detectives. Wait until I put mother on this case—she'll get it out of him some way or another.” “I'd hate to have her after me,” said Springtime, who had never been able to get over a cold chill whenever he was in Mrs. Osborne’s presence. “‘ How much does she know about—everything?” “ Just enough,” said Kitty with a confi- dential nod. “ Dad told her a wonderful tale, and she took to Johnny as though he had been the long lest Dauphin. You wait —there will be important developments in this case before long. Good-by.” She flourished the riding crop and disap- peared, and Springtime sat for a long time — watching the doorway out of which she had gone. All*of a sudden it seemed to be a good doorway, an excellent doorway, a king among portals. He turned back to his beans with a long sigh—nonplused by the multi- tude of new things that had come into his life. After a time he gave it up—it was — becoming altogether too complicated. He — sat down and began to pick over the beans, — slowly, painfully, but with his palm | stretched out flat as Kitty had or to see Johnny standing in the doors who was Oe ee a “Look at him,” said J “look at the hard guy! Oh, boy!”. -c.0958