Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

TOO CLOSE and Sheila had to wait so long for their happiness. Still, she thought, with the wistful wisdom of age, the waiting and the hoping were the best part of it, after all. II. “Hi, Taff-ee!” screamed a group around the piano, as Taffy entered the little base- ment restaurant, ‘‘ you’re in for it! Sheila’s been waiting half an hour!” Taffy pushed by them, to the little table, far in the back of the room where Sheila’s flaming hair made a bright spot in the dimness. “Well, you’re a good thing!” she hailed him wrathfully, ‘I’ve outgrown all my clothes, waiting for you. I was a gay young girl when I came in here, and look at me now—a vision of neglected old age!” ‘* Couldn’t help it,” grinned Taffy cheer- fully. ‘‘ Went clear to the Bronx to doll up. S-a-a-y, but you look spiffy in that new hat!” “Taffy Thurston!” she said severely, “this is the identical hat that I’ve been wearing for seven weeks.”’ “Well, it looks different,” he insisted stoutly, “ maybe you’ve got it on hind side before, or something. Anyhow, it looks stunning.” Sheila dimpled. ‘A bus ran over it last night. That probably softened its outlines,” she laughed. She was a little thing, not pretty, save for a pair of disturb- ing Irish eyes, but with a coloring so vivid, and a smile so heart-warming, that few people denied her a beauty she did not actually possess, Taffy leaned across the table. ‘ Do you know, Miss Kildare,” he said confidently, “that you haven’t at all a repulsive sort of face?”’ : Sheila stabbed him playfully with a bread stick. ‘“ Go on wid yer blarney! You must have been up to something, showering me with all these kind words. What did you do last night? Play poker again?” “Nope. Took Gran to the movies,” said Taffy, serving the soup, “it was her birthday, you know.” “Sure, the old darlin’,” rejoined Sheila. “Did she get the flowers I sent her? Il TO HOME. 217 found a little pot of heliotrope that looked just like her.” ‘Yes, and she was pleased to death with it. Do you know, Sheila, Gran thinks you’re just the elephant’s eyebrows.” ‘““T’m sure those were her very words,” said Sheila. ‘‘ What did you give her?” ‘“A hundred dollars,” answered Taffy proudly. Sheila pushed her plate aside, and leaned over and patted Taffy’s hand. “Good boy!” she applauded, “‘ that was that hun- dred you won playing Red Dog, wasn’t it? You couldn’t put that sinful money to a better use. What was that promise you made me?” Taffy held up his right hand. ‘ Look not on the dog when it is red!” he intoned solemnly. ‘“ Right!”’ she laughed, “ I thought may- be you’d forgotten. And now what was that perfectly frabjous news that wouldn’t wait?” “It’s business, Sheila, my big chance!” said Taffy eagerly, ‘ but I don’t want to tell you, till I have you all to myself some- where, and we can really talk. I suppose you’ve got something framed up for to- night, haven’t you?” “Yes,” said Sheila, “1 have. Three of Orloff’s little plays are to be put on down here at the Pill-Box Theater, and I prom- ised the bunch we’d go.” ‘Oh, darn!” muttered Taffy gloomily. “TI hate those Russian things! I know just what Orloff’s piece de résistance will be. Home life of a dope fiend. Crazy husband and consumptive wife. He catches his bride crocheting a baby sock, strangles her with said sock, and staggers out into the night, muttering: ‘ He mighta been a hop-head!’ ” Sheila choked with laughter. “ Oh, Taffy, you have no soul at all!” “Well, isn’t that a fair synopsis of a Pill-Box play?” demanded Taffy. ‘“ And then a lot of old hens in horn spectacles will moan rapturously, and sigh: ‘Oh, Mr. Thurston! Wasn’t that intriguing?’ ” ‘“Come on, eat your spumoni. It’s all melting!”’ urged Sheila, “and you might as well smile about the Orloff evening, for yow’re in for it. I believe Orloff’s sincere, Com LOOOLK CO