The Argosy for May — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

320 again began to think of the pleasure in store for him that evening. In the spring he had left, at its most interesting stage, an affair of the heart, which was not only his first, but which consumed him with even a greater in- tensity than his miserable temper. Miss Alling was now to be in town for a week, and he had persuaded her over the telephone to dine with him that evening. Her house was closed for the.summer, and he considered it a great honor that she had dropped hima note, asking him to call at the hotel where she was stop- ping with friends. And he was en- thralled when she had so far overlooked the conventionalities as to accept his in- vitation for dinner. He was due to call for her at seven. It was\now only five, but he hastened to his near-by apartment in order to be punctuality itself, and to remind her that the two months which had passed since he had seen her in nowise changed the intensity of his feelings. ‘“ Let’s see,” he said to himself, as he entered his room and closed the door, ‘“~how long must I allow to reach her hotel?” 3 He reached for his card-case. “Oh, of course, I left the case at Crofty’s to be fixed— Her hotel is the —the—the—” And the young man stood still—thinking. “Of course I know it,’ he went on. “Tt begins with a ‘W’—the West- moreland — no — the Weland — no, she wouldn’t stop there—the—the—” and again the perspiration gathered on Gal- way’s brow. - With a sudden inspiration, he seized the telephone-book, and began searching for all the hotels, the names of which began with ‘“ W.’ Unsuccessful here, he spent many: more minutes looking haphazard for the names of ‘other hotels ; and finally threw down the book, with the most hopeless ejaculation. Then he began a search of his pockets for the note which would give the re- quired clue. Nothing to be found—he must have left it in the miserable card- case. Yes, he was sure of that now; and, after a hasty glance at his watch, he as- certained that with haste he might be able to reach the store before they closed. THE ARGOSY. Regardless of wilted collar and ex- tremely uncomfortable clothing, he start- ed in hot haste for the establishment of Crofty & Co. The massive front door was just being shut as he got there. ‘Closed, sir,” said the watchman. “But I must see some one in author- ity,” insisted Galway. _ At that moment there emerged from the entrance the well-dressed floor-walker previous irritation. approached him. ‘“T left a card-case here this after- noon to be repaired—and it is very neces- sary that I obtain a paper from it.” ‘“T remember the occasion well,” re- pled the other, “‘ but it is too late now.” “ But, it is most important—is there no way?” The dignified young man looked at Galway with something of satisfaction in his eyes. ‘No, sir,” he said. left, and—”’ As luck would have it, at that instant, Prentice, who really seemed to be a per- son in authority in the establishment, appeared from another entrance, and ap- proached the trio. “Ah,” he ejaculated, not with satis- faction, but with interest. ‘“‘ The repair department ? ”’ “Sir,” began Galway, now all humil- ity, “I lost my temper this afternoon ; but at present I have discovered that I left in the card-case, which is now in your possession, a paper which it is most important I see at once. Will you do me the favor of finding out if it is still there — they cannot have begun work upon the case yet?” The tall young man looked at Galway with the same calm interest and amuse- ment which had possessed his features when he suggested a trip into the moun- tains to find Mr. Crofty, and replied good-humoredly : ‘We all lose our tempers occasionally. Come with me, and I will see what I can do.” Together they entered the building, and went at once to the repair depart- ment which it had taken Galway so long to find. Here they discovered a con- scientious workman still laboring over a delicate piece of leather. The latter quickly ‘Every one has (EO) 1O@OOL< . who had been the means ‘of Galway’s | (C@