The Argosy, April 1916 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

BA and stared as though she was_horror- stricken. : For, as they entered the living room from the hall, Yale described the form of a man going through a window. Ina flash of time he had hurled the lighted lamp at the retreating figure. It vaulted through the air an avenging comet, went through the window, and caught the unlawful visitor in the small of his back. He fell headlong, howled in ter- ror, not knowing*what had struck him that could give out that brilliant flash and then leave him flat on the ground in total dark- ness. But a spark remained, the oil of the lamp leaked out, and then, with a loud report the _whole thing went up in a spurt of flame. In the light of this that lasted but a moment, they saw two men racing toward the road. Then the oil blazed up, but that was a petty illumination the unappreciative audi- ence soon extinguished. 7 “Two of them, Kenneth!” whispered Beverly, bending close to him. ‘I wonder if there are any more.”’ “T fancy not,” he answered. “I’ve been figuring on two right along. One of those fellows looked as much like our insurance appraiser as the dancing light could per- mit. Now we’ve lost a lamp.” “There are others, Kenneth. Come in.” She was standing inside the dark living room, holding an empty pail, which had contained water, and he, who had taken it from her hand and drenched a great square rug he had seized from the floor and thrown over the blazing oil, was outside. He clambered in through the window and closed it. The night was very chill. ‘“‘Have you a match, Kenneth?”’ “Ves, I guess so.” He had, and soon the lamp in the living room was doing duty in place of the one destroyed. “What an adventure,” said Beverly, sit- ting down and drawing the blanket close around her. “You have vanquished two miscreants to-night, Mr. Owens. Don’t tell me again that you are a coward.” “Don’t tell me that your teeth chatter with fright, Mrs. Owens.” She laughed merrily. “T am not so sure—I’m not so sure——” began Yale. “Heavens! any more!” “No, but I was wondering. You don’t suppose there are When I THE ARGOSY. knocked the fellow down in the dining-room he let out a terrible bawl. Now I see that it was some sort of a call to the other chap. Well, I'll bet one has a sore head, and the other a ruined coat, as souvenirs of this night’s work.” “But what did they come here for?” asked Beverly with emphasis. ‘Search me. I have my money in my pocket. They didn’t get that.” “T wonder.” “Well, it’s no good sitting there like a squaw in a blanket wondering. Go back to bed. I'll have another smoke.” “Do you feel faint?” “Faint? No. I feel bully. My foot’s sort of asleep, but that’s such a fine im- provement on the pain that I'll let him sleep. Wish I had a bottle of beer.” -“T'll tell you what! I’ll make some tea.” “In that rig?” - “Oh, no. See if there is any fire in the kitchen stove, will you?” “Tf there isn’t I'll get one going.” And he did. Meanwhile, Beverly went to her room, from which she reappeared properly clothed. Yale had water on the fire, which was boiling gaily. ’ In a short time they sat at the kitchen table with their tea and some little cakes Adolphus had discovered at a store, rather stale, but clean, having spent all their days in an airtight tin. “This married life Owens.” “The incidents of married life are incal- culable, Mr. Owens,” she beamed back at him. ‘“You make very good tea, Mrs. Owens.” is wearin’, Mrs. “YT couldn’t have done it unless you built | a very good fire, Mr. Owens.” This inconsequential clack was the re- action from the short but hard strain on their nerves. By the time they were fin- ished it was two o’clock. ‘“‘No more excitement this morning, Mrs. Owens. Go back to bed.” ‘Goodness, I’m as far from sleep as the poles are apart. Let’s sit up.” ‘No! You will go back to your room. Do you want to dim the light of those violet eyes?” : “You gump! My eyes are blue. Good night, Mr. Owens.” “Good night, Mrs. Owens.” Yale felt no need of sleep after his lunch, _ and setting the living room lamp on the dining-room table, he refilled his pipe, and MICLOOOK C©@