Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRANKS the room, and awaited the coming of his father, who, punctually at nine o'clock, presented himself. As soon as he was assured that his son was better and that the doctors had already been there that morning, he rose to go, saying that he would drop in again in the evening on his way up town ; and then he added: “ IT found that stock all right.” ‘“ Of course you did.” ‘“ But the package has been opened.” “Certainly. Two or three times. When will you be in this afternoon? ” ““ Between five and six.” Then he went out, and the bedridden patient kicked the clothes off and Jeaped to his feet. ‘“ Now skip out, Felix,” he said. “I won't stir out of the house till you re- turn.” Felix made no reply until he was ready to go, and then he paused at the door, and said very slowly : “I did not offer my congratulations, Pike, but I do now.” . “ Qh, they can wait till you get back. T’ll want them then—and need them, too, I imagine.” As soon as he was alone, he rang the messenger call—it was then half past ten—and wrote another note. Here it is: DEAR Miss NEb: | ' Felix and I want to see you very inuch, and at once. You did splendidly about that safe, but affairs are not entirely straightened out, yet. D’ve got to have your consent to one more thing, right away. Can you come here at once? Answer in person. PIKE MILLINGTON. After the boy had gone, Pike took his stand near the window where he could see up the avenue, and for half an hour he neither moved nor turned his eyes away. Then, suddenly, he laughed softly to himself, crossed the room, and stood near the door until he heard light, quick footfalls beyond it; and then the bell Instantly he opened the door. “ Come in, Ned,” he said, laughing OF DESTINY. 139 softly. “ Felix will be back soon. He was called out on a little errand.” “It is not right at all for me to come here in this way,” she said, entering the room, but declining the proffered chair. “No, I won’t sit down. Is Felix com- ing right back? Yes? I will wait afew moments. Have you seen the papers this morning? ” “Not a paper. Why?” “ Oh, dear! It is so funny. All about your accident. One wouldn’t think there is a whole bone left in your body. I wonder which gripman thinks he ran over you! Pike, do you see any gray hairs in my head?” “Not a hair, Why?” “It’s a wonder. I never was so frightened in my life as when I was opening that safe. I wouldn’t do it again ” “ You won’t have to; that’s one com- fort. You did it up brown, though. Fooled the governor like a mice. Lord, Ned, I don’t know what in the world I would have done without you. And that brings me to the thing I wanted to ask you about this morning: I don’t know what in the world I am going to do without you, ever—and I have made up my mind that I won't.” “Won't what?” she asked, not con? prehending. ‘“Won’t do without you.” “When? Where? What do you mean? ”’ “Now. Everywhere. I mean that I want you all the time. That’s the point: all the time. You’re a dandy, Ned! There isn’t a girl like you this side of heaven. Why, if you were my wife, with your grit and pluck and get- up-and-get, I’d control a railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific in two years, and have a mortgage on the world in five; but, Ned, I’d have something better than railroads and mortgages— something better than anything and everything else in the world, for I’d have you. You needn’t stand there and stare at me as if yott thought I’d taken leave of my CONNIClOOOKS.COn