Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

132 CHAPTER XXI THE MADDENED HUSBAND. the real incompetent finds himself caught in the same trap twice. The bitter truth of this flashed for an in- stant upon Thomas Henning as he consid- ered the almost daft eyes of Mary. Not nearly half an hour ago, they had been caught in this very predicament—and for a time they had merely stared helplessly at each other. Now, emphatically, they were caught again—and they were merely staring at each other! But if on the other occasion they had enjoyed a certain little leeway in the mat- ter of time for thought and action, it was entirely missing now. Then a. suspicious William had been calling calmly for a mere investigation; now, in some unexplained fashion, outer Braydon appeared to have furnished him with data of the most defi- nite and specific description—data, too, which Mary and Thomas had fondly im- agined to be exclusively in their own pos- session! “Will you open it, Henning?” the voice demanded. | Battered nerves were giving! [ is one of the axiomatic gems that only ~Mary’s lips were opening and her eyes informed: young Mr. Henning that they were opening for one wild, damning scream. A bound took him to Mary’s side. One hand went suddenly over her mouth. “ Hush!’ hissed Thomas. here yet!” ‘“* He'll come in!” Mary managed behind the hand. “ He’s terribly strong and he’s furious now and—’” “ He isn’t in “Well, (ll begin to get furious myself, » if this keeps on much longer!” Thomas breathed. “Sit tight, Mary! Here! Where’s that helmet? No—sit still! There’s no time to hide you now!” He snatched up the helmet and poised it over her suffering head! “T can’t!” Mary gasped. ‘I can’t sit here when—when he comes in!” “You can, I tell you! -You can, d’ye hear? You’ve no choice about it! You— you’re drunk!” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “What?” ‘““ 'That’s it! Remember it! Drunk— pickled—paralyzed! You can’t talk! Re- member, that. too!” .' But— ‘All right, Henning! In I come, then, and damn the scandal!” Mr. Emerson’s voice said sharply. One mighty thud and his body struck the door, and hinges crackled and a panel seemed to split! Another, and the really beautiful woodwork gave with a distinct crack—and the helmet dropped upon Mary Emerson’s head and Mary herself sagged down in her chair, limply, rattlingly, with a dreadful little choking sob! The smallest fraction of one second Thomas surveyed the figure and grinned wildly. Alcoholic liquor had not caused the present lines of that drooping iron form, to be sure, yet a gallon of the stuff could have painted no more perfect picture of complete collapse. In the corridor, William paused an in- stant to grasp and whine: “Ti get you! Tl get you and I'll get her if I die for it! Open that door!” Calm fairly crashed down upon Thomas | Henning. Coat and hat again hurled into the closet, he dragged at the fastenings of his door. He ripped it open, too, with as black a scowl as a thoroughly outraged. man should wear. ‘“What’s the matter out here?” he thun- dered. “Who the —1s that you, Emer- sone” “That’s me!” William wheezcd, and bounded into the apartment. “Tm back and by the living— Thomas gripped his shoulder and held it. “Yes, I see you’re back!” he cried sav- agely. ‘ What the devil’s the matter with you, you maniac? What do you mean by coming here and trymg to break down my door? Have you gone raving crazy?” “Get that hand off me!” said William. ‘““T will when you calm down! I’m not going to permit you to run amuck among this new furniture,. Emerson!” “Get that hand off me, or Ill kill you! Get that filthy paw off me, Henning!” Thomas, with a really horrible sneer, re- moved it and wiped it carefully and thor- EGORNIG OOO SS q - (COUNT