Argosy All-Story Weekly, 4 February 1922 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

MEAS ‘GENTLEMAN, = Thirty-five cents for the plate, a nickel for coffee, ten cents for a tip—Chester com- Resolutely he walked on. Fifteen minutes later he reached a white one-story cottage set in a scraggly yard. Maybelle Jones, magnetic with the fresh beauty of eighteen, answered his peal at “Oh, hello,” she said listlessly. . Chester smiled. didn’t expect me.” The girl hesitated a moment before she swung open the screen door. i Following her into the golden oak par- lor, Chester Gibbs saw nothing of its crass- ness in taste or furnishings; nothing except the smooth, budding charm of Maybelle— the gold glint in her hair, the trim lines of She sat upon a straight-backed settee, crossed her slender silken ankles, and adjusted her softly piled hair. “'How’d you like to take in a movie?” “ They got a peach of a “You act like you the boy asked. picture down at the Bijou.” “Sorry—I got another date to-night, * You got another—say—what!” “Yes, and I’m afraid I'll have to ask you not to call here any more. she asked me to tell you.” His brain reeled with the shock of it. Calmly, coldly, she—Maybelle!—had just said— A thousand memories of moonlight, of plans and dreams and pledges, eddied in a confusion of anguish. “ You—you don’t care any more?” The shadow of a smile revealed May- belle’s little, milk-white teeth. ‘“ Let’s not argue, Chester. Besides, it’s almost eight o’clock,”’ ** Who’s coming?” he heard himself ask- : Well—I suppose you’d find out any- how. It’s Harold Pudney.” Beyond any possible control, some fu- rious, primitive anger flared through every nerve in the body of Chester Gibbs, elec- clenched until the knuckles were white oe of bone. ~# es! fellow—with So putty face and _ = * = i . ———— rs ss — ee xs short upper lip!” His voice sank to whi nip- like intensity. “So that’s who it it is, e ch? Harold Pudney, eh?” Sos Maybelle regarded him with the ‘te ve i eyes of a woman whose mind is set. = “ The Pudneys are one of the fines’ = families in town,” she said metallicly, — “ Harold’s in the bank now, and what's more he'll be its president some day.” Se = “ Yes, he will!” = Her exquisite lip curled. “ F wibeciana he’s a gentleman—if you know what 13 7 A gentleman! Ha! Say, if I told you —but what’s the use? It don’t matter.” = a The little teeth clicked as though May- = belle Jones were determined to make athor- ough job of it. Somehow, the thought that = she was experiencing malicious pleasure — came to Chester, and he bit. his lip until the blood started. <a ‘““ Harold Pudney,” she was saying, “ docs = not need me to defend him against your <2 z= insinuations, He’s got something to him— = real character.” es ‘IT suppose your mother put that i 7 into your head?” = — 2 “Suppose she did? I’m the one thé 1s got it.” i Sa Again the color was gone from Chester's ae face, As livid as he had been before Chief — Andrews, he got unsteadily to his feet. = = “ All right, Maybelle. There’s nes more for me to say. My life is ruined.” “T guess not,” Maybelle retorted, unim- pressed. “I understand you're in ‘lots ae demand as a pool player.” With an upraised hand he stayed her, * My love for you—that’s killed, Time alone can heal the scar. But if you ever Pe need me—if I can ever help you in m= = Wway—just call on me.” — ~ Tmpersonally, without warmth, the : gil spoke: “ Your fine talk don’t mean a = on earth to me any more, Chester. Pye = listened to you too long already. Wor words,” = = “My word ”—his voice fairly rasped— “is as good as my bond. Remember that. — I wish you all the happiness in the world. — a Good-by.” . ee = A revulsion toward the town, its ligt ts 3 People, fell upon Chester as he | urne id > ee Soe = = comichoo 9ks.com —s - = > —_ <= ia — ~~ ws ns ss - ee = , SS =< * pte . —_ =