The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

oem roa fra TaCcd a) GFrartridgeDIyler “ Y Jove! such preoccupation, Keller. What have you there —a glowworm or a bit of radium?” Sardonis Tillinghast, stopping be- side a big leather chair in the Van Rensselaer Club lounge, gazing down at the slump-shouldered youth in it, who held something half under one palm and was looking at it covertly. Keller flushed and glanced up, dropping the object into an outside coat-pocket. His face cooled in an instant, he smiled, and replied lan- guidly: “ What would you say to it being an engagement ring? ” “Of all things, Keller! You! you of the tender heart and callous con- science, a benedict! Benedicts must leave off Benedictine, you know—and absinth! ” “Oh, but pledge—”’ “Like holding a squirming boy by the ear, eh?”’ “No, really, I don’t mind it so much, you know; one can still get brandy sauce on pudding, and there's coffee, and those drugged soft drinks at the soda-fountains.”’ “To be sure. Good for you! So you're really engaged!” Tillinghast was leaning forward with a warm smile and a congratulatory hand thrust out, as though to extend his deepest sym- pathy. . Oh, I didn’t say that, you know,” she has me by the the other corrected hastily. “I said what if it were an engagement ring? But have you a cigarette? This think- ing of serious things has quite fagged me.” Tillinghast slipped a smooth, shapely little cigarette-case from his outside pocket and tossed it to Keller. “Look! Isn’t it an extra that news- boy 1s shouting!” cried the latter, pointing through the bay window. “I wonder what's happened! ”’ Tillinghast, who doted on “ Extras ” and fairly lived on the “ Personal ” columns, sent a page out to buy the copy; but it proved an unexciting political caposé and Tillinghast threw the paper down in disgust. Keller picked it up and became ap- parently absorbed. Tillinghast stood silent a moment, a slow smile glowing on his lips and finally flaring from his eyes. | Keller frowned interestedly over the article and appeared to have wholly forgotten the other’s presence. Sardonis Tillinghast broke into a full smile, glanced around the room quickly to assure himself nobody was watching, and then gently plucked Kel- ler’s sleeve. Keller did not look up; he seemed utterly absorbed in his reading. “i say!” exclaimed Tillinghast, jerking his friend’s arm again. “I say, old man, do you know, you forgot to return my cigarette-case.”’ 217 oO CoOMmicbook CO