The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

CROWNED HEADS. the lower deck, had singled out this young man and his companion as suit- able cavaliers for the expedition. - The young man pleased her, and his friend with the broken nose and the face like a good-natured bull-dog was obviously suitable for Katie. Etiquette is not rigid on New York ferry-boats. Without fuss or delay she proceeded to make their acquaintance—to Katie’s concern, for she could never get used to Genevieve’s rather abrupt way with strangers. . The quiet life she had led had made her almost prudish, and there were times when Genevieve’s deportment shocked her. Of course, she knew there was no harm in Genevieve. As the latter herself had once put it, “ the feller that tries to get gay with me you can make sure is going to get a call- down that'll make him holler for his winter overcoat.” But all the same she could not ap- prove. And the net result of her disap- proval was to make her shy and silent as she walked by this young man’s side, The young man seemed to divine her thoughts. “Say, I’m on the level,” he observed. “ You want to get that. Right on the square, see?”’ “Oh, yes,” said Katie, relieved and yet embarrassed. It was awkward to have one’s thoughts read like this. “You ain’t like your friend. Don’t think I don’t see that.” ““Genevieve’s a sweet girl,’ said Katie loyally. “A darned sight too sweet. body ought to tell her mother.” ‘Why did you speak to her if you don’t like her?” } _ “ Wanted to get to know you,” said the young man simply. They walked on in silence. Katie’s heart was beating with a rapidity that forbade speech. Nothing like this very direct young man had ever happened to her before. She had grown so accustomed to re- garding herself as something too insig- nificant and unattractive for the notice Some- 661 of the lordly male that she was over- whelmed. She had a vague feeling that there was a mistake somewhere. It surely could not be she who was proving so alluring to this fairy prince. The novelty of the situation frightened her. “ Come here often?” asked her com- panion. “ T’ve never been here before.” “ Often go to Coney?” ““T’ve never been.” He regarded her with astonishment. ‘“ You’ve never been to Coney Island! Why, you don’t know what this sort of thing is till you’ve taken in Coney. This place isn’t on the map with Coney. Do you mean to say you’ve never seen Luna Park, or Dreamland, or Steeple- chase, or the diving ducks? “ Haven’t you had a look at the Mardi Gras stunts? Why, Coney, dur- ing Mardi Gras, is the greatest thing on earth. It’s a knockout. Just about a million boys and girls, having the best time that ever was. Say, I guess you don’t go out much, do you? ” “Not much.” “Tf it’s not a rude question, what do you do? I been trying to place you all along. Now I reckon your friend works in a store, don’t she? ” “Yes. She’s a cloak-model. has a lovely figure, hasn’t she?” “ Didn’t notice it. I guess'so, if she’s what you say. It’s what-they pay her for, ain’t it? Do you work in a store, too?” ‘“ Not exactly. I keep a little shop.” “All by yourself? ” “I do all the work now. It was my father’s shop, but he’s dead. It began by being my grandfather’s. He started it. But he’s so old now that, of course, he can’t work any longer, so I look after things.” “Say, you’re a wonder! What sort of a shop?”’ “It’s only a little second-hand book- shop. There really isn’t much to do.” “Where is it?” “ Sixth Avenue. Square.” She Near Washington COMicdoo S CO@