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Page 18
Garry glanced hopelessly at the melee on the floor.
"I suppose," he said coldly, "that you plan to go sagging along the
highway with a suit case in each hand and a bag or two on your back?"
"I plan," retorted Kenny, "to depart from here with one suit case which
will eventually become a knapsack. The problem now is entirely one of
elimination. Have you anything to do, Garry?"
"I have," said Garry distinctly.
Kenny looked hurt.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Because you're a jewel at eliminatin'. I mind
me of the sketching trip we took together. You did all of the packing
then in a marvelous way."
Hopelessly uncertain what he ought to do, Garry lingered. If by a word
he could restrain this madcap penitent from roving off in a fit of
sentimentality it must be spoken forcibly and at once.
"Brian," he said, "will never forgive me."
"Brian," said Kenny, "is a jewel for sense. He'll love you for it."
Garry flung himself into a chair with a muttered imprecation.
"Now, Kenny," he said, "I want you to tell me precisely what you plan
to do."
Nothing loathe, Kenny obeyed. He liked to talk. Garry found his plans
indefinite and highly romantic. It was plain the notion of footsore
penance had taken vigorous hold of his imagination and his love of
adventure. Characteristically, since the actor on the highway was
himself, he saw no chance of failure. To Garry's curt "ifs" he turned
a deaf ear and sulked.
In the end they quarreled badly. Garry, raging inwardly, went home in
despair; and Kenny, after a tumultuous period of indecision, eliminated
a floorful of luggage. In the rebound he took less than he should.
He was ready to go when the door opened and the head of Sidney Fahr
appeared. Instantly his round eyes bulged with inquiry.
"Lord Almighty, Kenny," he said. "You--you're not off for anywhere,
are you?"
"I am," said Kenny.
Sid came in and closed the door.
"I--I can't believe it!" he sputtered.
"Don't!" said Kenny. He was out of sorts. Garry, talking of honor and
letters, had given him a bad interval of indecision and guilt.
"It--it's amazing!" went on Sid. "You were all right at breakfast--"
Kenny wheeled furiously.
"Sid," he snorted, "you're amazed when it rains. You're amazed when it
snows. You're amazed when the sun's out and amazed when it isn't.
Thunder-and-turf! you're always amazed!" Whereupon he stalked out with
his suit case and slammed the door.
Sid pursed his lips and shook his head, his gaze riveted upon the door
panels in round-eyed incredulity. To him Kenny was an incomprehensible
source of turbulence.
"The spark!" said Sid. "Wonder what it's been?"
Then sharing the club-feeling of guardianship where Kenny was
concerned, the good-natured little painter embarked upon a tour of
inspection, locked the studio windows and trotted upstairs, still
amazed, to tell Jan all about it.
Thus Kenny departed from the Holbein Club, forgetting Fahr almost at
once. He had recalled the tale of the Irish piper who added a phrase
to some fairy music he heard below him in a hill; and the fairies,
bursting forth in delight, had struck the hump from his back in reward.
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