Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

$78 of them. There was the regular stroke of steel upon steel as he sharpened his carving blade; no more. ey hope our intrusion—”’ Jack began again, in a louder tone. Eliciting no re-/ sponse, he raised his voice a second time. ‘“T want to explain how we happen to be here, if you will listen—”’ The object of the addresses heard noth- ing, apparently. But he did notice the sec- ond place set, suddenly, and brought his fist down upon the table with a resounding whack, turning to Jack as he did so. “Who told you to arrange two places?”’ he thundered. The carving-knife was still in his hand, and he did not seem to realize he was waving it beiligerently. ‘ Are you in the pay of my nephew? Are my new servants sent here to worry me into a re- cenciliation?”’ He lowered his voice, but a note of fine scorn crept in. “ Am I to deal with ser- vanis as ambassadors of the worthless scamp I have thrown from my _ doors? Never!” He half rose in his chair. “ Not until hell freezes over will I look upon his face again! Take that plate away!” Jack, startled into the action of perfect obedience, hastily picked up the plate, glass, silver, doilies he had so carefully ar- ranged for Lillian. Holding them, he faced the man once more. “'We.are not servants, you know—” he raised his voice until it seemed he must be heard a mile away. “ If you will listen—” Lilian broke into laughter suddenly. It was too ridiculous. ‘ He’s stone deaf, dear!’’ she called from her place near the kitchen door. — Their host, carving himself an ample piece of the steak, looked up all at once and saw her. Apparently he had not no- ticed her before. Fixmg her with a glaring glance, he brought his fist down upon the table again. ‘“‘God, woman! Are you go- ing to stand there and watch me eat? Do you think you’ve come to a circus? Oud ante the kitchen!” Lillian fled. Half a moment later Jack joined her. They looked at each other, speechless for several instants. Then the humor of it struck them simuwitaneously, and as they laughed he went over to her and ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. put his arms about her. It was sweet to be together, even in as odd a situation as this: And it was_a first day far different from their plans. Jack pushed her away finally. Ferced to surrender their supper to this tyrant, denied a chance to explain—it rankled the more he thought of it. ‘I’m going in and make that old codger understand, if I have to write, and hold his head while he reads!”’ she checked him and led him to the win- dow. Outside it was raining harder than ever, if such a phenomenon were possible. ‘“He might ask us to get out, dear!’’ She shipped a hand-in under his coat and _ up around his arm, scratching his back—a trick which had never failed to put him in a good humor during the engagement. ‘Let him eat away, eat his head off! Then, after he’s gone, I’ll cook up something even better, and we'll eat-eut here, and pretend we really are servants, and have nothing in the world but our love” He swept her to his arms, and it took four rings of the bell from inside, each more violently imsistent than the other, to- remind Jack Connelly that he was SUPpos- edly a first-class and efficient butler in a wealthy private home up im the Berkshires. The man at the table ate the steak, every bit, and cleaned all the ether dishes. His capacity and appetite was that of a gor- mand. Finished, he rose and turned to Jack. ‘‘ You will have breakfast ready at seven; promptly at seven!”’ Without waiting for a nod or a “ Yes, sir!”’ he faced about and strode out of the room, across the living-room, and up the stairs. His tread, as before, was heavy and springless. The steps died out up- stairs and there was the-sound of a door slammed viciougly. Jack turned/to Lillian, grinning. we have breakfast at seven?” _ She smiled. ‘‘ We will have dinner, dar- ling mine, and I’m going to cook it!” ‘“ And I”—Jack straightened—" I’m go- eing to fix up this table again, I still insist we eat in style!”’ She raised on her toes to flick him a kiss upon the lips; then she hurried out through the swinging door to be at her task. For the second dinner the inexhaustible Will ECOMNIC HOG Ss COlini