Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

224 Fate had decreed that Pancake Hearn’s blow should send the misguided chauffeur to the hospital with a fractured skull, from which he never recovered conscious- ness. Mr. Myers was on hand. The Times reporter who invaded his office and located the “ Session Laws of 1800,” and thus ef- fected his release, also luge ged in homely remedies for his injured eye. That news- paper was also chary of official dignity, in all six editions next day. The story was a classic. Mr. Myers, henceforth, as a bloodhound was a very vegetarian animal in examining Mr. Thomas, who was crisp, instead of }o- quacious, and only droll after he left the grand-jury room. Then Hank Thomas faded out. His chief bemoaned his absence. Final- ly, one day, he got a note in Hank’s chi- rography, saying he had “run across Mr. Fitch in Maine, and Miss Dale and Mr. Fitch would be back in Downington”’ on a certain date. Publication of this announcement caused Mr. James Montgomery Hardy to dress in full regalia to meet the train. “Oh, they both belong,” said he, ‘‘ and it is only fitting that on their return from their formal bridal tour, recognition should be accorded them by the press and their friends.” Mr. Hardy had the recognition wrapped up in an ascot tie, pumps that glittered, and a bouquet of flowers. He launched himself back toward the parlor car as the train drew in. Mr. Fitch, looking remarkably well and smiling as of old, was first greeted. Behind him, in a traveling gown whose simplicity seemed only to heighten her in- describable loveliness, tripped the golden THE U VINGO’S LADY SERPENT U ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, girl. Mr. Hardy bent almost double in spite of his pudginess. As he straightened up, he glared. Hank Thomas, who had so cruelly hu- miliated him, was also getting off. Mr. Hardy “ cut him dead.” “ Mr. Hardy,” said Claude Cutler Fitch, “surely you know Mr. Thomas. He’s coming back to the Times.” ‘““T have met the gentleman,” said Mr. Hardy, in as envenomed accents as the oc- casion permitted, before he turned to con- vey his congratulations to the others. “May I not bestow this small floral token as an earnest of my individual hap- piness at seeing you both back?” bubbled Mr. Hardy. “It is truly a great boon to see you again, particularly under such hap- py auspices. Mrs. Fitch is positively radi- ant!” Dorothy, her face in the flowers, blushed and smiled. “Oh, you have it all upside down,” said she. ‘“ Mr. Fitch has been married more than a year to Mr. Thomas’s sister, with whom he eloped. I was only the maid of honor at their wedding. This is my hus- band!” She slipped her arm through that of the human clotheshorse, whose super-ducal grin of high disdain was positively fiendish. “Can you imagine him an uncle?” smiled Dorothy. “ Well, it’s the most wonderful child in the world—it weighs eleven pounds, already. Henry ” —she lingered over the name with an ineffable cadence— “hated to leave it to come back to go on the paper again, and so did I. But, Mr. Hardy, we’ll let you help pick out a cradle. Its mother will come down next week in Mr. Fitch’s private car, and with him, of course. Henry can’t get away from the paper—and I can’t get away from Henry!” END Le} By LORING BRENT Another of this writer’s clever stories of Florida, dealing with characters in humble circumstances who live little more than a stone’s throw from the millionaire belt that makes of this long, narrow State the winter playground for the fashionable folk of almost all the other States. ‘““ Vingo’s Lady Serpent ” will be our Complete Novelette next week and contains a vamp that outvies them all. 4A (E©) Eboo <= —— ~ $ - ee xf * te ee _ oie a ea Se ee com