Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRAVE AND THE FARE. rich ’ finds the three of you in the morn- ing! » His own little racer he found safe in. place, unmolested. There had been no damage from the sterm, and it was the work of a few-moments to wipe up the lit- tle water here and there. On test the igni- tion worked perfectly and the carburetor seemed. to function properly. He pressed the lever of the self-starter and the engine started at once. Elated, but puzzled, he started to clamber in to drive to the house when there was a sputter and the car was dead on his hands again. The symptoms were unmistakable. ~ — “ No gas!” he exclaimed. On examination his guess proved correct. Enough gasoline had accumulated from the vacuum system to fill the carburetor, and that was all. Then he grinned. The car of the three meddlers! He walked back to the house and found a pail at a side door. Returning, he coolly appropriated the con- tents of their tank, transferring the precious liquid to his own. And, he resolved, he would not confess to Lillian that he had failed to remember that one filling of his tank was insufficient for an all-day trip. When he drove up to the kitchen door and turned he noticed a change in the air, and a glance at the sky showed him that’ dawn was breaking. They must hurry! He bustled about, filled his radiator, saw that everything was shipshape for the next lap of their journey, then entered the kitchen. A look, and he smiled. His own clothes, dried and pressed, were laid out for him neatly. Lillian already was dressed in her things. The borrowed garments were out of sight, perhaps re- turned up-stairs. Lillian herself, her head on her elbow, her hair of fresh-spun copper the brightgst thing in sight, was sound asleep. Her breathing, hardly a snore, was a testimony to the fact that the little bride was quite worn out. She would awake to _ her second day of married life after as un- Satisfactory a first one as a persan possibly could have. Before rousing her he made his change and concealed the butler’s clothes in an un- used flour bin. Then he went to her, kiss- ing her lightly, here, there, until she opened 383 ~ her eyes. Her first act was to fling her arms about him. “Ts the car ready, and everything?” she asked finally. He nodded. “Shall we go?” “No!” She shook her head emphatical- ly. “It’s early yet, and I’m going to cook breakfast. You’re hungry, and I’m fam- ished!” - - He was uneasy, remembering the men locked in the garage, and the third ted to a tree, but she‘had her way. He sat at the table and dozed off himself before he knew it. was ready—eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, fruit, and preserves. He pitched into it, finding he was hun- gry after all; and she watched him fondly, not neglecting her own appetite. As they ate they laughed and chatted and never dreamed it was nearly seven thirty. The unmistakable footsteps of the old uncle, coming through the dining-room, startled; petrified them. He pushed through the door, and seemed to grow sev- eral inches in stature as he saw them at their meal, dressed in their own clothes. “ Where ts my breakfast?” he thundered. “ Why didn’t you call me? Where are your uniforms? Where ts my breakfast?” Neither moved. He started to speak - again; when there came the sound of voices from the direction of the living-room, and he stopped, in amazement, as though he were able to hear after all. A moment later Amy and Hubert rushed out, bright and fresh as the morning, and irrepressibly happy. “Where ith breakfast?” she Ccenemicied, winking at Lillian. “When do we eat?” added Hubert, who had been in the army. © The elderly gentleman’s jaw dropped, and his voice was very different as he looked at the other four. blazes—how—which of you couples is which?” Jack and Lillian looked at each other. When she shook him everything “ How in blue Hubert seemed surprised to see the au- thor of the question, but he answered quick- ly enough. “I’m Hubert Denby! I’ve rented this place for a month for my honey- moon. Who are your” COUMIUC AOOLK COlini