The Argosy, March 1907 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

rege a a RR a PRE OY CR KING OR COUNTERFEIT? TOL “T’m almost glad, George,” replied will never be known, for at this point Mrs. Scales. the parrot, which had edged silently “Glad?” shouted Mr. Scales. along its perch until it reached the side ‘Glad? ” - of its cage, and had made a minute in- “Yes, George,” persisted his wife. spection of the speaker’s hand, deftly “Don’t you see that if we get rid of it removed a large piece from the fleshy at once nobody will believe we ever had part of the forefinger. a parrot, and they'll think that what Mr. Scales’s yell of anguish so those two horrid women are saying is frightened his wife that she was power- true. Some of our friends ought to less to avert the tragedy which ensued. see=it.” Wrenching open the door of the cage, “And hear it, I suppose,” said Mr. Mr. Scales thrust in his uninjured hand Scales, bitterly. and, in spite of the indignant and ter- He realized, however, that his wife’s rified squawks of the parrot, dragged it argument was not without force, and out, twisted its neck, and dashed it to scowled darkly at the carpet. While he the floor. stood revolving in his mind the diffi- “Oh, George!” cried Mrs. Scales, in culties which beset his path, he uncon- tears. ‘ You’ve killed it.” sciously slid his hand down the wires “IT hope I have,” said Mr. Scales, until it found a resting-place on the pro- sucking his wounded finger and glaring jecting end of the perch. ‘at the motionless form at his feet. As Mr. Scales was looking at the floor “ Serves it right.” and Mrs. Scales was looking at him, The parrot opened an eye, swore twice neither noticed a quick, cunning twist of in a feeble voice, shivered its feathers, the ‘parrot’s head followed by a stealthy, and expired. sidelong movement. ‘“ Fifteen dollars thrown clean away,” ‘Well, I suppose we'll have to keep sobbed Mrs. Scales, with her handker- it for a day or two,” Mr. Scales said at chief at her eyes. : last in gloomy tones. “ But I hate the “Hang the fifteen dollars,’ retorted very sight of the brute—lI tell you Mr. Scales savagely, as he stalked out of What Mr. Scales was about to say the room to hunt up a bandage. KING OR COUNTERFEIT: a BY BERTRAM LEBHAR, Author of “ Caught,” “ No Way Out,” “ Flat-Broke,” and “Who and Why?” ¥ : A challenge that was unaccountable, followed by a discovery that electrified. CHAPTER XxX. her manner was haughty. She detested Se een ae the king’s private secretary. She could give no reason for this HEN Duval entered the reception- dislike. There are men whom people room of the Princess Cornelia, hate without knowing why they hate the scowl had disappeared from his face them, and Duval belonged to this class. and he had fully recovered his usual “Well?” said the princess. ‘‘ What self-possession. is this message which the king sends “Inform her royal highness that the to me, baron?” Baron Duval desires to deliver to her She addressed him in almost the same a special message from his majesty,’ he tone she would have used to a lackey, commanded the flunky. and it was all the king’s secretary could When the princess entered the room do to repress a scowl. : *This story began in the November, 1906, issue of Tur Arcosy. The four back numbers will be mailed to any address on receipt of 40 cents. Eomicboo es tases OE Fe yn oe en ee OO ce nee A . Fo e we See <S/;GOM: