Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

144 the corridor. There are limits to human endurance. Mary desired her clothes! So be it! Mary should have her clothes this time if it became necessary to topple the ~ whole Cypria Apartment into Bond Ave- nue, and pick her clothes out of the ruins. Aye, if the blood of half of Braydon flowed down the gutters before he had fin- ished the job, Mary should still have her clothes.. Thomas controlled himself somewhat as his hand closed over the knob on the d of Peter’s flat. He meant first to wret bh the knob off bodily. Then, he assumed, he would spend five merry minutes trying to pick the lock with his knife. That fail- ing, he would step down-stairs and borrow a sledge from the superintendent and— Thomas opened his eyes. Most of us, when really overwrought, neglect many of life’s little details. Mrs. Noble had neglected at least one: just under Thomas’s hand, her key stood in the lock! An incredulous snort escaped the afflict- ed young man. He tried the key and it turned readily. He tried the door and. it opened readily. He pushed it back and, without the slight- est hindrance, he walked straigAt into Pe- ter Noble’s home! His skin crawled with pure joy! Hilis fingers punched at buttons and lights flashed into being. Thomas laughed soft- ly, wildly. If Mary’s things were in Peter’s closet, he knew the way! The junior partner of Henning and No- ble dispensed with a formal music-room in his apartment; that cubby-hole just be- yond the spacious living-room was what sally called her boudoir. Thomas fairly breezed into it and turned on more light. And now for the closet! That rumpled mass on the floor was Mary’s coat, thrown there by Sally. Thomas picked it up and shook it out and kept on his way to the closet; readily as if it were his own, he opened the door—and he laughed again... It was impossible, of course, considering the way things had been running this eve- ning; yet notwithstanding its impossibility, there hung Mary’s skirt, matching the . jacket! Ah, and that silk shirt-waist bore \ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the same monogram, did it not? Delicate- ly, Thomas took it from its hook and laid It with the other things. . That hat up there? Doubtless the hat was Mary’s. It matched the suit, anyway, and Thomas added it to his collection. And that was all, was it not? No, it was not! His quick eye, travel- ing down to the floor, lighted upon Mary’s tiny gray shoes and the gray silk stockings thrown over them. With a grin that was almost tender, Thomas picked up the ab- surd little things. Nothing more, then, remained, save to make them into a neat bundle and carry them back to the poor kid over there. A weight seemed lifted from Thomas; for the first time he fully understood just how much vicarious suffering he had been do- ing, in addition to his own portion. Here were poor little Mary’s clothes. Here was life itself for Mary! Thomas permitted himself a great sigh as he rolled them up neatly. ‘“Whatever does this—” voice in the next room inquired. Thomas started up. Steps were coming his way. And they were Sally’s steps! Ac- companying them, Sally herself was in the center of the living-room at this very in- stant, wide-eyed, with the door of the place standing open behind her! She was pale and very greatly startled. One hand to her bosom, she fairly glared | at Thomas for several seconds, until full recognition came; then, with a little gasp, Mrs. Noble advanced and cried: “ How—how dare you break in here?” ‘“‘ [—er—”’ Thomas essayed. ‘““How dare you, I sayr” =» ‘ Sally—listen!”? Thomas said swiftly. “Don’t berate me like that when I’m try- ing to be of service to you! You went out and left your door open.” ‘T did not!” “Pardon me, but you did!” Thomas corrected. “‘ If you don’t believe me, youll find your key in the lock. I heard you go, and a moment later I saw your door open and assumed that sneak thieves were in here. . ™ “T came over at once and I’ve been an amazed hunting for them. .They’re not here. Is COUMIC TOG S,COnn