Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

* ERE!” ordered the man in the taxi. ' Alighting, he handed the driver a crisp bill. “Sorry I ain’t got no umbrelly, boss,” croaked the driver as he peered through the drizzle.. ‘“ I thought it was through raining a couple hours ago.” With a grunt his passenger waved back the change and ran lightly up the steps of one of a somber row of brownstone houses that marked a block in the West Seventies. For a moment he stood there, rummaging through his pockets; then he impatiently pushed the bell-button. After an interval of waiting he pushed it again. A muttered exclamation escaped him as the door opened, revealing a sleepy-eyed man sex- vant in the dim light from the hallway. Though his evening dress was disar- rayed and his face flushed, the man’s voice was as steady as his gaze. “You sleep like a swine,” he tersely re- marked. ‘‘ And that means you’ve been at my claret again.”’ ‘“T beg your pardon, sir! I—” “Cut it!” was the retort. “ You can have your walking-papers to-morrow.” “Tf you please, sir; if I may—” “You may retire,” came the curt re- joinder. ‘I shall not need your services to-night.” ‘“‘ May I be so bold—.”’ started the other, and then faltered, for his employer had turned shortly and fixed him with a look that drove the blood from his trembling lips. He shivered slightly and indulged in a doleful shake of his head as the gray- haired man mounted the stairway. ‘“T never see ’im this way afore,” he muttered to himself. ‘Such a case 0’ nerves ’e ’as!”’ The slamming of a door came to him as he followed in the other’s wake. Within the commodious bedroom the master jerkily tore off his clothes, tossing the garments on a chaise longue at the foot of the bed. Then, kicking off his shoes, he stepped into the bath-room to turn on the flow of hot water. A few minutes later he lowered himself into the porcelain tub and lay back with a grunt of satisfaction. The bath seemed to soothe him, bring a grim smile to his face. As he stood there vigorously rubbing himself down, his long, round muscles moved and played under the ministrations of the coarse towel. Though well in his forties, his figure was that of a trained athlete. ‘As hard as_ nails,” would have best described it, though there was something pantherlike about it. He was calm now, yet sleepless, as he re- entered the sleeping chamber and flung 626 EO DOO SS (C(C)