Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

260 portunity to put a quietus on the false rumors that were in circulation. He finally consented, making the con- dition that Nell and I should tell no one of his presence in America until after the publication of the interview. By that time, he said, he would be on his return voyage. When this was settled, I took my leave, feeling fairly certain that all would be well. I left the office before Nell had time to finish her interview and get back, as I knew she would ask a lot of questions and I feared I might in my answers contradict something that the pseudo Seumas had said. Late in the afternoon I called up R. Jones at the St. Felix and rejoiced to discover that everything had been asked and answered according to our schedule. The broken wrist had helped immensely. It had made it impossible for the famous author to give his interviewer an autograph, and as for playing his latest composition, that was out of the question. Tom was pretty nervous, thinking that other newspaper writers might find out about him and that he might not come out of the ordeal so well another time. He said he wanted to get back to Ben Gleason’s place as soon as possible and then sail for Europe as we had planned for him to do. He seemed quite keen on the European trip and declared that he had absolutely nothing to keep him in America. I promised to see him the next day, and then tele- phoned to Harlowe and reported in guarded language that our interview was a success and that the scheme so far had worked to perfection. On the following day, at luncheon time, I called at the St. Felix and asked for Mr. R. Jones. I had a borrowed car with the curtains drawn waiting at the door, and it was my intention to smuggle Tom out of the hotel and convey him to Ben Glea- son’s place. Tom had promised to have his bills settled and everything ready for a prompt departure. I was both surprised and alarmed when the hotel clerk informed me that Mr. Jones was in the restaurant. This was entirely irregular, as it had been a condition pre- cedent that the temporary impersonator of Seumas was not to be seen in public, as we ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. realized how dangerous it was, with that portrait of him on exhibition. It had been distinctly understood and agreed that he was to have all his meals served in his room, and I went into the restaurant pre- pared to chide him for his carelessness. There he was at a table with Nell Teller. Another girl was with them, and when I recognized this third party, I nearly did a Charley Chaplin swoon into the arms of the head waiter. She was looking at Tom Jervis with the same adoring expression that on a memorable occasion she had wasted on “ Portrait of the Artist, by Seumas Shayne.” The three were having a wonderful time, though Nell seemed to be doing all the talking, the perspective of the other two being limited to each other’s eyes. I was afraid of complications, so I did not ven- ture to intrude, but sent a note from the office asking if I might see Mr. Jones on a matter of great importance. The impersonator of universal genius presently came out, radiant with good hum- or and happiness, looking handsomer than his own portrait. It was evident that one of the menaces to our little scheme would be motion picture scouts looking for new matinée idols. ‘Well, old boyhood’s chum), what’s on your mind?” he asked, giving me a cruelly cordial grip with his mighty left. “You know you’re not supposed to be seen in public,” I remonstrated, ‘“ and I’ve come to take you away.” ; ‘“ Where?” he inquired, rather perturbed. “To Gleason’s place on Long Island, where you said you wanted to go as soon as possible and where people won’t see you.” “Oh, Long Island,” he said, thinking it over. “ Well, that’s all right. I'll go. Sup- pose we make it to-morrow; or what’s the matter with next week some time?” “The only matter with to-morrow is that it isn’t soon enough,” I told him,” and you'll have to stay at Gleason’s till you sail for Europe. That was understood.” “Europe? Yes, we'll talk about that later,” he said. ‘‘ They tell me conditions there are terrible just now; and, come to think of it, I have an engagement to-mor- EOPMICL OO KS (E@)