Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

THE ORCHID HUNTRESS. her. “JT knew you'd carry that through all right.” “ But quick! Tell me about it.” “TY did even better than we planned, old girl!”’ Jerry came closer and laid his hand on her arm. “TI gave him the line about Mercer—and then, who should come along but old Holman?” _“ What did you do, Jerry?” “TI one-stepped straight over to him— after excusing myself to the Orchid—busi- ness, you see!”” He winked at her. “It was easy enough to frame a little talky- talk with Holman, and the only part of it our friend heard was a question about Mer- cer Oil.” “You are a wonder!” Jerry admitted it by a complacent smile. “That old boy would lend solidity to a San Francisco earthquake!”’ he said. ‘“‘ The rest of this will be like selling umbrellas on a rainy day!” ‘““T’m proud of you, Jerry! Dishonestly proud, I suppose!” with a little laugh. “What ’re you doing to-night, sister? Can you dine with me?” “Sorry. I’m to be at the Burgoynes.” “To once-over the masterpieces?” “More or less.” ‘You'll mention Baldwin’s antiques!” “TI don’t like it, Jerry! Jean has met Carruthers, you know. We’re very cosmo- politan nowadays, and we can’t tell when some one will meet Mrs. Burgoyne.” “What difference? Who could prove anything?” ‘““No one, I suppose. You must go now, it’s time to dress. JI dare say I shall be bored. They talk mostly about the kiddy, but it zs a dear. I”—she pursed her mouth a bit wistfully at him—“‘ I like kid- dies, Jerry—when their faces are clean!” Jerry took, her hands from the back of the chair, swung her with one movement into his arms and kissed her square on her puckered lips. . Her eyes were very close to his, and they flared back at him, surprised, anery, puzzled. He caught the hand she raised to stop him and held it while he kissed her again. Then she wrenched away and stood looking at him. ‘““T knew I’d have to do it some time,” said Jerry. — 3 2A 305 ‘“J—I don’t think I liked it,” said No- rine, retreating a step or two further away from him. “ It was rather like—one’s first olive!” ‘Tn that case the second was better than the first, and a third—” He started toward her again, but she stopped him, once more the aloof Norine of whom he was impa- tiently afraid. ‘No, Jerry!” she said. ‘“‘ Some people never like olives! And, if you eat too many the first time, they are likely to— prejudice you.” After she had let him out of the hall door, Norine paused before an old mirror in the drawing-room, raising her hands above her head. : “TI wonder if I liked it,” she mused. “Jerry is rather cataclysmic! But, with him, life would hardly be dull! And that is really the only thing in the world I am afraid of—dullness!” _@ CHAPTER VII. BAITING THE TRAP, ANFIELD MASTERS’S | breakfast was interrupted the following morn- ing by a telephone call from Jerry. “You know that proposition I was talk- ing to you about yesterday?” he said. ‘At the club? Yes.” ‘Well, one of the fellows has reneged, and, remembering you asked me to steer something your way, I made my little spiel for you. I think they’ll let you in on a small block if you want it.” ‘*That’s good of you, Brent!” said Mas- ters. “Id like to talk it over. Where-can I see you?” “T’m busy with Sims all morning—well —Ill tell you, Ill give you a little time anyway. Come to Sims’s offices about eleven.” ; “Thanks! Jl be there!” The con- nection was destroyed. = Masters felt a deepening glow of interest in life as he motored toward Wall Street a couple of hours later. The idea of grap- pling with something big intrigued him. Underneath that was the male response to Norine’s half-challenge, the desire to show comicbooks (e(0)