Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

HOW MANY CARDS? of breeding. However, I could not tolerate my position amy longer after this morzning!”’ “ What happened, ma’am?” MeCarty heaved a sigh of relief. ‘“‘ T'was that | wanted particularly to see you about.” “There was a musicale last night—the last of Mrs. Fales Ogden’s Lenten affairs, and one of the most exclusive of: the sea- son—and I had with the exercise of the greatest diplomacy obtained invitations for Mrs. Kip and myself. Late m the after- noon Mrs. Kip went out alone, and on her return informed me flatly that she had made amother engagement for the evening and would not be able to attend the musicale. I was deeply affronted, but in my position, Mr. McCarty, one must use the utmost tact at all times and did not protest, merely despatching a last-minute excuse ef sudden ilmess to Mrs. Fales Ogden. Mrs. Kip did not dress for dinner, and about ten o'clock she called a taxi instead of her motor and went out in the plain velvet tattor-made and sables she had worn in the afternoon. “ My discontent in my position had been growing and I was seriously considermg the severance of my connection with Mrs. Kw»; her deretiction [ast night was the final straw and I determined that this morning we must have a thorough understanding. I could not sleep under the circumstances, so I know defmitely at what hour Mrs. Kip returned.” She paused, and McCarty eyed her ex- pectantly. Mrs. Kip had been at pains to impress upon him the fact that she had re- tired early; had she got the uncomproms- ing Miss Frost out of the way that her he might not be refuted? “Well?” be urged as the elderly com- “Mr. McCarty, it was almost daylight! I heard her close the front door down-stairs and slide the chain mto-its groove, although she did it as quietly as possible. Then she came up the stairs, stumbling and catching at the balustrade, as though she were famt or il & arose and was on the pomt of go- ing to her when I remembered her dis- pleasure on that former occasion, so I mere- ly opened my door and glanced out. into the SA 113 I—I was se shocked at her appearance that I} could net have uttered a word had I so desired!” ‘‘ What. was the matter with her?” Mc- Carty demanded. “ Her sable scarf was gone, although she strk held her muff, and her velvet suit was torn and bedraggled.”” Miss Frost spoke with morbid relish and her dark eyes snapped balefully. ‘“‘ She limped, too, and hugged one arm to her side as though it hurt her. JI should have gone to her assis- tamce at once had not something in her ex- pression warned me that she was not in any mood to brook intrusion. Paim and rage and a look of vindictive determination were all written in her face and I withdrew and shut my door. I could hear her pacing the floor of her room until the day broke, when I fell asleep at last. I arose at my usual hour, however, and came down-stairs just im time to see her receive a note from the hands of a messenger. I was astonished to see her up and dressed, for she usually breakfasted im bed, especially when she had been out—”" — CHAPTER XVI. “DONE FOR.” “ AIT a2 mitute, please,” McCarty | mterrupted her. “ You saw the messenger, you say; was he m uniform ?’” “Ne. I did not observe him particularly, but ke appeared to he 2 shabby-looking lad. Mrs. Kip bade me good morning in an absent-minded sort of way and instead of following me into the breakfast-room, went into the hbrary with the unopened note in her hand and closed the door. I saw that her arm was chimsily bandaged and while I was at breakfast the doctor was. announced; she must have summoned hun before I arose. I slipped out imto the hall as he was leaving and asked him how Mrs. Kip’s arm was, and he said that she had suffered a bad sprain anti made some reference to a fall which I did not under- Stand until later.” ‘“ Was it about her slipping on a rug OF something yesterday?” asked McCarty. COMIC OOS co ww