Argosy, September 1955 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

68 PAUL GALLICO much chance of that. Well, it is worth your little orphan’s dowry to me, dear Mystere.” ‘‘ And you will pay for the painting job as well? Julie’s fiancé is really an excellent fellow and more than usually clever with his brush. He is merely using house-painting as a stepping-stone to something better.” Pantoufle’s business sense intruded into this idyll for a moment. “* Ah, ah, that will surely be more expensive then. Heaven pro- tect me from house-painters with ambitions to be Monets or Utrillos.”’ “Yes, but in the extraordinary nature of this job...” “Quite right, my dear fellow. I had forgotten. I can see your point. And now that everyone else has been taken care of, what about you? ”’ ‘No, no. Nothing further is necessary.” ‘““Nonsense. I had no idea of the situation or I should have taken steps sooner. Let us say every week, perhaps...” “Tf you insist then. One bottle would suffice.” “Three, my dear fellow, three by all means. It is worth it to us.” ‘‘ But they must be delivered to me personally, or else . . .” ‘“A boy on a bicycle arriving some time after dusk? ” SPertectt ‘“‘ My dear friend, Mystere !”’ ‘“ My old comrade, Pantoufle!”’ The two men embraced with emotion by the river bank. The next day Pantoufle departed as swiftly and mysteriously as he had come and Colonel Bobet said to his wife, ‘‘ My dear, I have been so fortunate as to be able to effect a compromise with our late visitor, and the payment will enable me to carry out a work which, as you know, has been close to my heart for a long while. ‘‘T have had a word with Michel Bavasc the house-painter, and the amount in hand is sufficient to enable him to paint our house immediately in the best style, not in one, but in several colours of your choice, red and blue, for instance, though he himself recommends yellow and white.” “Red and blue,” Madame Bobet said immediately. “‘ I do not need the advice of anyone inferior to me.” And then, sud- denly overcome by the news and the realization that her husband was actually prepared to sacrifice the interests of his thirst in order to make possible her desire, she added, ‘‘ Oh, Francois, this is indeed good of you!”’ And she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him, causing Colonel Bobet momentarily to entertain a very strange ‘and un- comfortable feeling in the pit of his conscience. ya Connicbooks. conn