Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF oughly upon the side of his trousers. Brief- ly, William seemed to have passed beyond words. He was mouthing and gulping and working his hands spasmodically—so that Thomas, looking him up and down, per- mitted the sneering smile to widen and even shook his head. ‘Well, I don’t use it. myself,” he mut- tered, ‘‘ but there must be a wonderful kick in the stuff they sell in this town. Where did you get yours?” William Emerson accomplished the final mecessary gulp. ‘“‘ Where’s my wife?” he demanded. “Tm sure I don’t know,” said Thomas. *“ Have you lost Mary?” ‘ She’s here!” “ Yes, and she can’t get away!” William said with a horrible laugh. ‘“ Your fire- escapes lead out of this room and she’s—in . there! ”’ : Thomas Henning placed his hands on his hips and considered his fellow townsman. “Will, have you any real idea of what - youre talking about?” he demanded. ‘“Oh, yes! A very clear idea!’’ snapped . with unpleasant lucidity from William, as_ he grew calmer. “ Hah! I’m not the fool I look, Henning! ‘Listen! I came here before, on my way up-town; I’d telephoned from the sta- tion to Mary’s house and couldn’t get any answer, and I assumed that she’d gone out somewhere with her parents and that some- thing had detained them! Then, passing here, it struck me that Sally Noble might possibly know where Mary was—and when I got up here and saw your name F the - door across the hall—” “You came in—yes, I know a!l about that, of course,’ said Thomas, with a ‘splendid manifestation of deep concern. ‘“'What’s the idea of it? Has anything happened to Mary or -her parents?” “It doesn’t*get over, Henning! before, because I didn’t find her here. But It did THE BRIDE. 1338 couldn't rouse him with a telephone bell, and he told me the truth: you visited Mary. there this afternoon, before she’d been at the house twenty minutes!” ‘“ Her—uncle said that?” ‘“Qh, he said a lot more than that!” William snarled. ‘ He said that Mary ast- ed very queerly, and refused to tell what was the matter with her. He said that ske must have sneaked out of the house just after she persuaded him to he down and go to sleep!” ‘‘And he said that she came here?” Thomas inquired blankly. ' “Oh, no! I figured that out for my- self!”’ William stated, with another dread- ful laugh. ‘“‘ Because I know you, Hen- nmg! I know you and your pretty curls and the attraction you’ve always had for the girls! “Tm not blaming Mary—so very much. She’s a woman, and they’re all shallow and weak as water! Somehow, you’ve been getting letters to her! You’ve been telling her about your devilish money and wean- ing her from me, and she—I suppose I may have neglected her a little, because I’ve been going night and day to make a living for her and a future! And while I’ve been doing it, you’ve been getting in your beastly work, until you persuaded her to come back here and—who’s that?” Wil- ham demanded suddenly, as his clearing vision for the first time discerned the armor. " That,” said Thomas, “is a. drunk! That’s another one of the — er — peculiar Visitors that-seem to run my way this eve- ‘ning. ?? “< “Can he—hear me?” “Unless he has turned deaf, too, I as- sume that he can. family affairs in a pretty loud tone, Em- erson. Not that I’m suggesting that you stop, you understand. It’s all mildly in- teresting, even if I have no idea of what you're talking about—even if it is going after I'd been to her house, I saw it all!’ to force me to hammer the head very near- Her parents haven’t been in town for a week, and her coming here to visit them was a mere blind! “ Don’t interrupt. me, Henning! I roused her beastly uncle with my hammering if I ly off one of the most insulting pups I’ ve ever met, in about two minutes. So con- tinue.” “Tf he can hear—” Williany began, and then dropped his voice to a harsh whisper. You’re shouting your | COUMIUC AOO!K co wo