Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

wy 112 given to understard in a general way that she had large holdings in the West from which she received ample dividends, but I observed that those dividends seemed to fluctuate in value more irregularly than even the wild-cat stocks in which my poor, misguided father lost most of his fortune years ago. At times Mrs. Kip would indulge in the most reckless extravagances and at others there would seem to be scarcely sufficient available funds to maintain her comparatively small establishment and no- tices would come from the bank that her account was overdrawn quite alarmingly, but she would always manage to recoup at the crucial moment.”’ “How?” McCarty asked. “That was one of the mysteries which gradually seemed to arise about her, at least. In my mind.” Miss Frost spoke now with evident care. ‘I fancied she had influen- tial friends from whom she borrowed when necessary, but I never could learn who they were. Another thing about her which I[ could not understand, Mr. McCarty, was the reason for her unexplained absences at most—most unconventional hours. Usually I arrange a daily social pro for my clients as though they were débutantes, but Mrs. Kip soon gave me to understand that she would exercise her own judgment in such matters. I do not pry into the affairs of other people, but -when I am practically responsible for their presentation to the right society I must be sure that they do not jeopardize my reputation as well as theirs by indiscretions, however innocent.” “And Mrs. Kip was what you call in- discreet, ma’am?” McCarty’s own words were carefully chosen. The lady set her thin lips in a straight line. . “That is the mildest word with which I can describe her conduct, Mr. McCarty, although I could not with actual prcof breathe a word against her personal charac- ter or reputation. I only know that shé would go out, sometimes in the afternocn, but more frequently at night, and remain until all hours without a word to me as to . her plans, and the next morning she would invariably appear haggard and worn, in a state of nervous exhaustion bordering on a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. prostration, as though she had been through) some feverish excitement.”' McCarty leaned forward with sudden i. “ How often did she go on these expedi- tions of hers?”’ ‘ Only occasionally at first and at irregé = lar intervals; sometimes on several success. sive days, and then a week or two would3 elapse before she went again. It seemed ta: me at times as though she were fighting-" Something and.if I were not familiar with. the habits and demeanor ofa drug addict * through an unfortunate experience with @ ». former client 1 would have believed her & victim. I forebore to question her at firsé,..* but of late her disappearances have becom® - more frequent, averaging several times &- week; she has totally forgotten or disré‘ garded engagements for social functions fer ? which I had been at infinite trouble and. e pains to procure invitations for her, placing’ ’. me in a most embarrassing position. deed, it seems to me that she had lost alt: ambition for her own advancement and wah content to drift. Her fmancial affairs, tea’ ‘appear to have reached a crisis and I ick&.: that at last I should be compelled to speak. ” Miss Frost was nervously cl and | unclasping the arms of her chair and a fine » network of veins stood out upon her fore head.. “Did Mrs. Kip receive any messages or” telephone calls just before she went out on these occasions?” “ Sometimes, but I never knew their na- ture nor from whom they came.” ““ Did she go alone?” ‘ Invariably.” ‘And come home alone?” McCarty in- sisted. “ As far as I know,” Miss Frost shrugged. “She always used her own latch-key and the servants were. instructed to leave the chain off the door, but were never permitted to wait up for her. I did once, but Mrs. Kip was displeased. and made a most dis- tressing scene, practically accusing me of attempting to interfere in her affairs. I Should have left her then,. but I realized that she was unnerved and not quite her- self and made allowances, too, for her lack COUMIUC foie S Colin