Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

cd ee ee \ i + woe” . eo ae - + > : *,% ._ + 7 ——F 4 J nal ee ae a SS rd vat . ; . ey: ease ew 3 eb a mn ' 7 - # * ¥ ~ in’s b east, her cheek on his, after were not weary of dan partly shion of the day, she contemplated cause the ee 3 at eT possibility of mounting the steps of famous French artiste—had are Fi _ stone to that dreadful chair fitted was tremendously popular. The French h straps and bands of steel. Would she artiste had sung it gorgeously — but very ave courage for that? naughtily. The modern young revelers t was like some weird nightmare—this laughed delightedly over it, and hummed mn 0 herself paying the supreme pen- the haunting tune themselves as the orches- y fo / murder. It was so unlikely a tra began the encore. . ig to befall her—Katherine Kendall! Katherine thought of Garry. They had \n | now it was threatening her. The been together at one of Carson Winslowe’s alow of it was already looming large. faraous Sunday night parties the first time ours had passed, and still Garry had not they had heard it. The composer had ome to tell her she was free. And only played it and sung it himself—and the fa- seventy minutes more remained. Seventy mous French artiste, who had happened to inutes more of thist And then—what? be present, too, had cried out impulsively: Policemen? The Tombs? Or home “I mus’ ‘ave that song! You ’ear? I ain—her lovely gray-walled room, with mus’ ‘ave that damned song!” ‘ hangir os of turquoise blue—her maid Garry had not liked it. He had ap- vn ng by the fire —her dressing table plauded with the rest, of course, and smiled th its gold-topped bottles, its gold-backed —but Katherine had seen by the expression ror and brushes, its gold-framed photo- in his*eyes that he had not liked it; and phs; her white fur mules, and chiffony she had been a bit amused at such mid. noir, her blossomy bed with its silken Victorianism in him. Now she saw him in ! rr ets and dozens of soft, embroidered quite another light. He was so safe and yws. Oh, the security of that room as sane and fine! If she had only realized visu ized it now. Oh, the sweet se- then what her escapade with Da Costa ty of it—the tranquillity, the quiet, re- would cost her! If she had only thought ~ respectab ity of it! Would she go it out for herself. They were all head- kk there and be free to stop smiling—to ing for hell! She saw it now! She saw it —to sleep and forget? plainly! Only destruction could be the Tears welled up ‘nto her eyes; she goal of all this! ‘The music, barbaric, pas- pped her thick lashes hastily and bit sionate, insinuating, vile—appealing to the lip; and buried her face against young lowest in one! The small, close room, gar- sman’s shoulder, clinging to him in- rishly decorated! The dim lights! The stuehy because he was big and strong. heavy scent of flowers mingling with the more exotic scents of the women’s per- fumes; the smoke of cigarettes and cigars; the lowered voices; the rustle of chiffons; the flash of jewels and bare arms and back ‘ and bosoms! It was hideous—indecent— ‘it again! ; depraved! She saw it all—as for the first {just ache to have you take the Iss time! Only death and destruction ¢ ee a come out of such a place! , . is De ° ae “ t ro e L er “ae r 1e music swelled in crescendo; the mu- jans were singing to lend added stimulus ay say, ‘No, no, 10, 20, n-ol’ “ 1, know if you do, you ; , Yt regret it. Come and get it, “You're quiet,” sald young Coleman, o one is near! 3 smiling down at her, and holding her closer. te Rein tut then— “You'd be surprised!” she answered, nin! Please do it again!” slangily, but with significance, |) rage) | with a crash; and the couples — And the jazz went ont — al ioe | SS Se oe Ne Pon ae tf as comicbooks.com a.