The Argosy — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

A Crists in hes Lefe. 123 “ How did they know Sophie Chalk was here? ” ‘‘ Through me. One wet afternoon I wrote a long epistle to Harry, telling him, amidst other items, that Sophie Chalk was here, turning some of our heads, especially Todhetley’s. Harry, like a flat, let Helen get hold of the letter, and she read it aloud, pro bono publico. There was nothing in it that I might not have wntten to Helen herself; but Mr. Harry won’t get another from me in ahurry. Sophie seems to have fallen to a discount with the mother and Miss Deveen.” Bill Whitney did not know what I knew—thetrue story of the emeralds. “And that’s why I did not go to the lunch to-day, Johnny. Who's this ?” It was the scout. He came in to bring in a small parcel, daintily done up in white paper. ‘Something for you, sir,” he said to me. “A boy has just left it.” “Tt can’t be for me—that I know of. It looks like wedding-cake.” “‘Open it,” said Bill. ‘‘ Perhaps one of the grads has gone and got married.” We opened it together, laughing. A tiny pasteboard box loomed out with a jeweller’s name on it; inside it was a chased gold cross, attached to a slight gold chain. “It’s a mistake, Bill. I'll do it up again.” Tod came back in time for dinner. Seeing the little parcel on the mantel-shelf, he asked what it was. So I told him—something that the jewellers shop must have sent to our room by mistake. Upon that, he tore the paper open ; called the shop people hard names for sending it into college, and put the box in his pocket. Which showed that it was for him. I went to Sophie’s in the evening, having promised her, but not as soon as Tod, for I stayed to finish some Greek. Whitney went with me, in spite of his orders from home. The luncheon party had all assembled there with the addition of Mr. and Mrs. Ap-Jenkyns. Sophie sat behind the tea-tray, dispensing her tea; Gaiton handed the plum- cake. She wore a silken robe of opal tints; white lace fell over her wrists and bracelets ; in her hair, brushed off her face, fluttered a butter- fly with silver wings ; and on her neck was the chased gold cross that had come to our rooms a few hours before. ‘‘Tod’s just a fool, Johnny,” said Whitney in my ear. “ Upon my word, I think he is. And she’s a syren !—and it was at our house he met her first !” After Mr. and Mrs. Ap-Jenkyns left, for she was tired, they began cards. Sophie was engrossing Gatton, and Tod sat down to écarté. He refused at first, but Richardson drew him on. ‘¢T’ll show Tod the letter I had‘ from home,” said Whitney to me as we went out. ‘‘ What can possess him to go and buy gold crosses for her? She’s married.” connichoolks (C(O) in —_)