Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

/ “ THE BRAVE AND THE FARE. Another moment and he backed out, turned, and swung across the bridge at a decent speed. Then, after a furtive glance at her, he wiped his brow. She felt the chills dash up and down her _ back, once the danger was over; but she thrilled with a glorious realization. He, had measured up to an emergency! He—she was sure— would always prove to be a brave, resourceful man! She moved back, closer to him, and slipped a little hand under his arm. The rough material of his auto greatcoat scratched as she did so, yielding her a distinct sense of comfort. He was aware of her hand instantly. Without removing his own from the wheel again, or taking his glance fram the road now, he presged it to his side with an un- derstanding firmfiess which brought added color to her cheeks. She dropped her eyes to her lap in sheer ‘cantent. There, revealed where the duster had fallen away from her new and never- before-worn traveling suit, she saw and re- moved and threw out of the car carefully two small: grains of nice. The marriage had taken place .a little over an hour before in Lillian’s home m Worcester, and the first part of the honey- moon was'to be spent at an obscure inn In the Berkshires. The wedding breakfast and the ceremony had been picturesquely successful. Fully two dozen of Jack Con- nelly’s friends had journeyed to Massachu- “setts to see him safely embarked in wed- lock; threatening all sorts of elaborates pranks as tokens of good luck. To avoid:the hazing Jack had planned painstakingly. His new car was purchased secretly and garaged many miles out of dhe city. Lilian told a confidant — one de- pendably loose-tongued—-that their honey- moon was to be a boat trip out of Boston. By doubling on their route—by changing - taxis—by walking to a trolley—they had eluded pursuit. . Lunch was at Greenfield. Lillian watched her husband with pride as he ordered, de- manding and olgaining perfect service. As she watched him finish off his salad with the gusto known alone to the touring mo- torist, she smiled at the memory of one of the things which had been whispered to her = Jack! illness, years before, had thrown the house . _ more. BY ts the day before the ceremony. A brides- maid had it from her brother, wha was one of the ushers. ~ Jack, it’seemed, wa@worried about just one thing. Was Lillian able to cook? Dear It, was fortunate that her mother’s upon her hands for eighteen months or He would not have to descend to prevarication and hypocrisy to praise her fare. She would show him a table such as | few men knew. She would prepare viands fit fora king, and they would be happy— desperately happy—if he always was brave and true as a king should. be. Through the afternoon the little car sped its way, generally westward. The sunset found the honeymooners mounting one of the main ridges of the Berkshires. — Fifty miles lay between them and sup- per, and their shelter, for Jack’s driving had been far too letsurely. He tore down the grade at a reckless pace, but stopped upon her insistence at the top of another rise nearly an hour later. ~ “Please, dear!’ she pleaded. watch the sky for a moment!” He yielded, and found them a sheltered 4é Let’s nook carpeted with moss. Red became purple, and purple a duil dead blue-black. The last vestige of sun tint was gone when a flash of lightning, bright in the dusk, bore witness to the approach of the storm from the south. } The two, awakened from their dreams, ran for the car. Jack put on his lights, clambered in hurriedjy, and pressed the self-starter. There was the usual grind as the willing motor turned the engine over, but no response. The car refused to start, utterly. At that instant came the first pat- tering dreps of rain. Jack, with first thought of her, hastily put up the top; then sought to locate his trouble. The rain, from a fitful sputter now and then, became steady; and as the wind rose, increased in volume until he was wet to the skin, and whipped about and lashed mercilessly. In the swirl of the water it was impossible te do anything. He lowered the hood to protect the engine. ohe reached out and plucke: his sleeve suddenly. ‘ Jack!” There was-the-delight ECOMNIC HOG Ss (CO ww