Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

114 “Yes, as I remember!” Miss Frost glanced at him in surprise and then went on: “‘ Mrs. Kip came down again in a few minutes and at my natural inquiry about her injury she told me that she had slipped and fallen in her room on her return the night before. She must have seen in my face that I knew the truth, for suddenly she flared out at me with all the violence of an unrestrained, ill-bred nature and a most disgraceful scene ensued! ”’ Miss Frost’s head, with its elaborate pufis, bobbed agitatedly and an indignant flush mottled her face. ‘‘T had never realized before how thin was the veneer; how utterly common she was! I can assure you, Mr. McCarty, that I have never been so insulted! Among other remarks which I shall not repeat, she said that she was not a child and was tired of my eternal spying; that I was an inter- fering old busybody! She actually dared to insinuate that I was a—a sort of society grafter, an object of charity, after all that I have done for her! I was simply stunned, but when I pulled myself together to an- nounce of my own accord my immediate departure from her house she forestalled me by demanding that I leave at once. She actually dismissed me! Gave me no- tice, as though I were a servant! Words cannot describe my humiliation, but if I can build social reputations I can also demolish them! Mrs. Bailie Kip will not find a door open to her three days from now!” “Hold on a bit, ma’am!” McCarty stemmed the outraged flow of words. “She got in a temper just because you looked disbelieving at her excuse about her . arm?” “Well, no,” the lady conceded. “I was disgusted at the insult to my intelligence and let her know what I had seen. I think I also mentioned other occasions to which _ I had taken silent objection and perhaps I - expressed my opinion as to being used as a cloak for actions which I did not under- stand. When our interview terminated I packed at once and came here. “In strict justice to the woman I cannot say that her manner was other than most circumspect when she was under my eye; She was popular and had several admirers, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. but there was no suspicion of a love affair, — I did not know what to think of those. nocturnal excursions of hers, but I could net. believe that there was anything actually dis- graceful about them. Still, servants’ talk* ~ and such things get about; I was afraid, as: - I say, of scandalous rumors and gossip, but- > I never thought of anything criminali=¥ : What is it, Mr. McCarty? I have tole you all I know and I am at your mer Tell me what hideous notoriety I must peer pare myself to undergo?” -+ “None, I hope, ma’am,”’ he responded - “You say she was recklessly extravagant: , at times; what did she spend her money , on?” “Rare jewels, more furs than she could” possibly wear and antique rugs and ob + jects of art which she was too ignorant tae? appreciate. She bought as mere fancy die ’ % tated, seemingly for the sheer pleasure of, YS spending money.” “ That neckpiece that she wore out last” night and didn’t have on her when she came: back—” McCarty began. “* That was one instance of her extravan’s | gance,” Miss Frost interrupted him. “ She, has another set of sables, as well gs alii kinds of fur garments for every possible ot. . casion, yet she must have these because; *. they were reputed to have been made fort 4 the Czarina and smuggled out of Russig* after the revolition. Twenty thousand she-: paid Van Brincken for the set and the very next week she was unable to meet het , florist’s bill!” ‘‘ How would you describe that neckpiece,. ma ame”? ‘ “A five-skin scarf of imperial black Rus- sian sables,” replied Miss Frost promptly. “The private seal of the Czarina was stamped on the small gold clasp which fas- _ tened it together under one of the skins at the throat.” There was a pause, and then McCarty asked: “Who were Mrs. Kip’s admirers? You say she had several—”’ Miss Frost raised her hands in protest. “I really couldn’t think of mentioning names! It would mean social suicide for me to drag into the notoriety of-a police investigation in connection with this woman econrniclacclks Colin