Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF “Tt’s damned rarely that I’m not quite sure how to act,” he informed Thomas. “But this is certainly one of the times. I—I don’t want to mix into an affair of ’ this kind!” Ts Eh”? “And still, Pete Noble is my good friend!” William blazed at Thomas. ‘“T—never denied it,’ Thomas said dizzily. ‘A mighty good friend and he always has been, and when—oh, bah!” young Mr. Emerson rasped, disgustedly. “Why this—er—talk about Peter?” Thomas risked. “Drop that, fool!” William exploded. “ Part of the armor fell off, Henning! I saw her leg!”’ “ Well, I should say that—that that was a most indelicate and—”’ ‘“‘ And it’s just as well that I recognized that silk stocking—because if I hadn’t done that, I’d have jumped to the conclusion that you had Mary herself hidden inside that rigging!”’ flared the incomprehensible Wil- liam. ‘ I’d have torn it from her, piece by piece, and—”’ ‘ Bill,”” Thomas said thickly, “ are you really crazy? What are you talking about?”’ “Don’t be an ass, Henning! That pair of slippers and stockings were the talk of ~ all the girls in town when Sally got them. Her uncle brought them from Paris when he came back, just after the armistice— she wore them to Marsden’s party the first time. Why, good Lord! You couldn’t see those things once and ever forget them again!” His fine teeth bared as he considered Thomas. Young Mr. Henning’s own teeth merely shut together. A new element seemed to have been injected into the even- ing; he could say no more at the moment. ‘The thing for me to do, for Pete’s sake, is to thrash you, here and now, within an inch of your life!” William pursued cheer- ily. “ But I’m not going to do it, because— well, there must have been a darned lively acquaintance on Sally’s part. Nobody ever got into that suit of armor by accident. “You and she—gad! Poor old Pete! You got him out of the way for the evening ee _ _— - a” a nal mF 00 a OP wef ae ewer F=E - -“ 139 You’re THE BRIDE. and—oh, you’re rotten, Henning! rotten! Absolutely rotten!” “Thank you!’ Thomas said simply. Mary’s husband turned away from him —gazed steadily at the floor for a little— shrugged again. “IT ‘guess Pete will have to look after his own fences,” he concluded. “ It’s none of my business, Henning. Thank the Lord I didn’t fall for the fancy escape, whatever job you may have put up with Dora Pitt, and, believe me, Henning, when [I tell you that I’m done with you—done!/—in every way, forever!” éé Yes?” ‘“ Because a man—or a thing!—one who Can carry on an affair with the wife of a partner who trusts him as completely as Pete Noble trusts you—no, damn it! It és no business of mine!” And he turned on his heel this time, , and snatched open the door. He jammed down his hat and, without so much as one fare- well, he strode down the corridor. For just an instant, beside the still motionless armor, he paused, looking it up and down. ‘Then William took to the stairway and, descending, vanished! CHAPTER XXIV. THE WANDERER RETURNS, ONE too steadily, Thomas shuffled out of his apartment, himself paused a moment to stare dazedly at the silken length of golden yellow, at present trem- bling visibly just at the point of disappear- ance, which was the knee-joint. “ You—you’d better come back to the flat, Mary,” he said huskily. The helmet turned toward him. “Where did Bill go?” faltered from its depths. ‘“ Away!” said Thomas. ‘ Come!” ‘“Isn’t he—going to take me to Dora’s?”’ Mary asked, shakily. . ‘’ From certain remarks that he made, I judge that he has given up the idea for the present,” young Mr. Henning said gently, - as he steered the strange figure through his own door once more. “ Mary, he thinks you re Sally Noble new!” COLM G AOO!K co ww