Argosy, September 1955 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

O MANY odd stories are going about regarding the Jones wedding—and they are going to be made to appear even odder by the forthcoming publication of Professor Macnamara’s. a _ thesis—that I am publishing all I know about the facts so as to: _ put a stop to the erroneous reports. But I have to go a long way back if I begin the story at the beginning, as I ought to; I have to go right back to last summer, and even then I must describe Professor Macnamara first. Angus is a dour Scot, who can on occasion be the rudest and _ most inconsiderate man I know, but the occasions are rare enough, and are always indications that he is too deeply involved in his work to conside, other people’s feelings. He came here to the University first as a biochemist, already of international renown. although he was only in his early thirties. ‘That, and the fact that he was unmarried gave him a glamour in the women’s eyes, which his apparent-lack of interest in anything except his work did nothing to diminish, and may even have increased, as he is handsome enough in a tall raw-boned Scottish sort of way. During the past four years since he came, he has added much _ to his reputation as a biochemist, but—until recently—nothing at all to his reputation as a lady-killer. Really the only woman _ for whom he ever found a kind word was my wife Dorothy, who took him under her wing (as far as it could be done with that - gawky lump of a man) with the kindness she displays towards any living creature. So now we can start the story, far back last summer. Mac- _ namara was with me in my garden, out in the evening sunshine, and I was looking over my water-lilies and feeding my goldfish _ who live among them. The wretched goldfish were “ courting ” or “ chasing ’—all that happened from then on is entirely the fault of them and their uninhibited behaviour. Because every now and then after the warm weather begins, the goldfish start to take thought for the next generation. ‘They begin in a sub- dued sort of way, poking their noses into each others’ sides, and from there they proceed to coy advances and retreats, and then comiclbooks.conn