Argosy, September 1955 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

24 WILLARD MARSH would have phoned her, but then he realized she hadn’t given him her number. And maybe that just wasn’t just an oversight. Ace set the beer before him and stood waiting. Humphrey looked up bewilderedly. “‘ What do you think I should do?” He approached the boarding-house from the blind side, so that she couldn’t spot him from her window. ‘There was a car drawn up out in front, maybe only one of the other boarders, maybe someone who could take her to better places than a sand- wich man could. Through the day’s last light Humphrey climbed the stairs to her room, knocked lightly. “Who is it?” Pearl called. He knocked again. This time the door opened, and there was no chance of her slamming it because he had his foot on the sill. ‘““ Why, Humphrey—oh darling, you’re so early.”’ She was upset, all right, but at the same time she managed to look pleased to see him. “ I’m not even half ready. Can’t you come back in just a little while? I’m a perfect mess.”’ At least that was no lie. With her shapeless housecoat and the grease on her face and her hair in curlers, he felt downright — deceived by the picture he’d been carrying around in his mind. “IT don’t care.” He half pushed on inside. “I mean, now that {’m here it’ll only take a minute.” “But, Humphrey, really, I have to press a dress, there’s still the rest of my undies to wash out— ”’ Swinging the door shut behind him, he gave her a winning smile. ‘‘ You don’t look so bad. Honest.” ‘Oh? That’s very nice to know, I’m sure.”’ She gave him a frosty look that matched her tone of voice. “I don’t want to turn your stomach or anything.” ““What’re you talking about? I said you look O.K. Is that an insult, do you have to get all huffy?” “I’m sorry, I guess I’m just a little flustered.” “'That’s all right, I’m sorry too,’”” Humphrey said automati- cally, looking round the room. ‘There was a jewellery box half open on her bureau, with a diamond necklace spilling out. ““ Nice place you got here,” he said, edging over to it casually. ‘Humphrey, will you come to the point and then please let me finish up?”’ Pearl said. ‘‘ What is it you keep looking for? ”’ ‘What makes you think I’m looking for anything?” he said craftily. He backed to rest with his elbow on the bureau, facing her. “‘ That is, unless you got anything to hide.” Pearl stared at him. “‘ Have you been drinking? You have, you smell like a brewery. Just what are you up to, anyway?” That was the psychological clue: projection. comiclooks.conn