Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

$76 of discovery in her voice. up there in the trees, and—it 1 up, but it will be a shelter—” He leaned in to get his heavy coat. For- tunately he had stopped the car well off the - road, and they could leave it if the house should afford them a haven. ‘“ I'll investi- gate!” he told her. She clambered out. ‘ And [’ll go right along,” she affirmed; “ right by the side of my darling hubby, always, rain or shine!” Even as she spoke the driving water began to penetrate the thin materials of her dus- ter and the suit beneath. _ Turning and seeing her standing there in the rain, already soaked, and so thor- oughly willing to share anything and all things with him, he forgot everything else and pulled her to his arms. A few minutes later they recollected themselves and ran for the cottage madly, laughingly, as if a second or half a second could spare cacat any part of a drenching now. The house seemed utterly deserted as they groped their way onto the porch. She clung to him, drawing upon his nearness for courage. A flash of lightning showed that the woods came down to the cottage on three sides, and revealed, further back, a new garage building. ~ “No one’s here,” he deduced, audibly, after a moment, bed this early, and—I’m going to preak in! 39 “No, no!”’ Her grasp of nis arm tight- ened. “ What would they say if they came ‘““T see a cottage isn’t lighted and found us?” ‘‘ Nonsense!” His voice took on a prop- ‘er husbandly shade of command. ‘ Who would turn us out in a night like this? Come on!”’ He found the door, turned the’ knob, and threw his weight against it. Unlocked, it swung back out of his grasp, and he fell to his hands and knees upon the floor. ‘‘Damn!’’ It seemed a proper word in the Stygian darkness. | She giggled. “Jack! You swore!” He clambered to his feet; took her by the arms. ‘“‘ I—I forgot myself, Lillian—” He realized it was the first time he had had to apologize to her since achieving the right to call her his. “They wouldn’t be in ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. She leaned close against him and put up her lips. “TI liked it!” she said softly. Another five minutes elapsed before they cast about for illumination. After all, it was their first day. Lillian found the switch and flooded the room with electric light. ‘ Just think!” she murmured. “ Elec- tricity ’way out here, or do you suppose they have their own plant?” — Jack was doing no supposing. “I hope there’s something in the icebox!” was his: remark. Then he looked at her. “ And if we can only make ourselves comfortable for the night—”’ She dropped her eyes. “ Silly!” Then, after a moment: “ Let’s explore!” And, without thinking, she clapped her hands at the prospect. The room in which they stood was a large living-room with a massive fireplace at one end. A huge, attractive log rested on two old-fashioned, wrought andirons, while beneath was kindling and paper ready for the touch of a match. At the far side a staircase led up-stairs, and an arched door- way to a tiny library which, at a higher level, was reached by four steps. The way to the dining-room and kitchen was Oppo- site the fireplace. As disclosed by its in- terior, the house was immensely larger than they had supposed. Lillian led the way to the larder. Pan- try, kitchen, and an alcove holding the ice- box were immaculately white and clean. The shelves in the pantry and the compart- ‘ments in the icebox were stacked, jammed with supplies. ‘“ We eat!” Jack exclaimed sententiously. Lillian, true to her sex, was more roman- tic. ‘ And each thing shall be prepared by your little wife,” she said, “ for quite the dearest man that ever lived!” His expression softened. Then he looked at her and laughed, and the laugh was suc- ceeded by an expression of concern. “You're soaking wet, honey! And ’— it was almost a discovery—“ so am I?” Indeed, there was a little pool of water on the linoleum where each of them stood. She giggled at the spectacle. “ Let’s see if we can rustle up-some dry togs up-stairs,” he suggested. EOMNIC OG SS (CO wo