The Argosy for May — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

P : } 7 | aes des Bale - : Soe a ~~ a ~ te in aes ¢ 304 “T understand,” whispered Grant in return. ‘“ Fire away. Now, let me see, you want to impress her with the intensity of your admiration. That’s the’ idea, isn’t it?” : “'That’s it,’ answered Hudson in a whisper. “ Here goes.” “The young lady I introduced you to in the elevator is the one I have told you so much about,’’ he went on in tones a little louder than he ordinarily employed. “Oh!” exclaimed Grant. “ You don’t mean it?” ‘Why, you say that as if you were surprised,” returned Hudson. “Well, I was,” admitted Grant. told me she was very charming and—’’ Hudson slapped him approvingly on the back and whispered : ‘Old man, you’re all right. up. Keep it up.” Then, aloud, he continued: ‘“So I did. Words are inadequate to express all that I would like to say about her. There isn’t another girl in the place who can compare with her. Now, isn’t she all that I have said. Isn’t she the most beautiful—” ‘“That’s just it,” broke in Grant. “A moment ago you said that I appeared surprised when I discovered that she was the object of your adoration, and the reason was—” He hesitated a moment, then added in resounding, even tones: ‘Hudson, I can’t agree with you. You have greatly overestimated her charms. She must have hypnotized you.” Hudson looked blankly at Grant for a moment, then said in a low voice: ‘“ By Jove, old chap, you’re a born act- or! vou meant_every word of it. However, I didn’t expect you to go as far as that.” ‘As far as what?” asked Grant. “Why, most fellows would have tried to beat me out at the game of winning her good opinion. ‘They would move heaven and earth to let her know how much they admire her. Instead of that you are deliberately ruining yourself with her, while my stock goes way up. I couldn’t have asked you to do such a thing, but it’s a great idea. Blaze away.” Hudson chuckled to himself, as Grant continued in a loud voice: ‘You beautiful and Keep it For a moment I almost thought, _THE ARGOSY. ‘And you think she is beautiful?” “Very,” answered Hudson enthusi- | astically; ‘‘and so graceful.” “I consider her only rather pretty. She certainly has no pretensions to beauty,” went on Grant. ‘“ Have you met Miss Anderson? Now, I wouldn’t hesitate one second in calling her a beauty. Then, there’s the Selden-Mason girl. She’s another. I could name any number who have your ‘beauty’ left at the post. As for grace, she is not awk-. ward, but she isn’t graceful either.”’ “Grant, I won’t permit you to say such things. You must be blind.” “TI am,” responded Grant, “as far as some women are concerned. By the way, there’s a favor I want to ask of you.” “ Anything you like, old man,” said Hudson. “It is this. Don’t mention to Miss Wakefield that I am anything but a plain, ordinary man. Promise me.”’ “ Certainly,” answered Hudson. “ For instance,” continued Grant, ‘‘you needn't mention my financial standing.” “Oh, I wouldn’t think of speaking about that,” replied Hudson. “Good. I wouldn’t Gare to have her know about my real estate and all that> The moment you say property some wom- en imagine that you are so much richer than you are. By the way, I got rid of that million-dollar piece of land the other day. It has been bothering me to death. I didn’t know what to do with it. Now, I don’t have to think about the thing any more. So, you see, I have nothing to worry me while down here.” ‘“That’s fine,” exclaimed Hudson. Then he returned to his subject. ‘‘ Miss Wakefield is very intellectual,” he said. ‘Ts that so?” inquired Grant. ‘‘ One would never imagine it. By the way, Hudson, don’t mention the fact that I write, will you? And don’t, by any chance, tell any one ‘that I can play the piano. Some time I will play you my latest composition, but not down here. I want to get away from all these things. My latest novel will be out soon. I'll send you a copy. After I am gone you can mention these facts, but at present I prefer to be plain Edward Grant. No- body can possibly interest me, so I don’t want to be bothered with answering ques- tions about what I have done.” Gomicbooks