Indiscretions of Archie

, old

uscles which he had not been aware that he possessed had started to ache like neglected teeth. His respect for the toughness and durability of artists' models was

onfound you!" sn

t you don't seem to grasp-what you appear not to

n inch and I'll murder you, and come and dance on your

that it seems to ca

shamed of yourself. Why, a girl who was posing for me last week stood for a solid

is more india-rubbery tha

on't weaken. Think how proud you'll be whe

st number of the magazine, and it had been necessary for Archie to drape his reluctant form in a two-piece bathing suit of a vivid lemon colour; for he was supposed to be representing one of those jolly dogs belonging to the best famil

out prejudice and with no wish to be offensive, if I had had a model who wasn't a weak-kneed, jelly-bac

eopathy on his aching back. "I say, old thing, I could do with a restorative, if you have one handy. But, of course, you haven't, I

eler shoo

irator-like caution to a corner of the room, and, lifting to one side a pile of canvases, revealed a stout barrel, which, he regarded with a fatherl

chie, interested.

There is much virtue in your raisin. And, talking of speeding things up, for goodness'

bsolute minute. I had to hang abo

artist soul is always annoyed by petty details. "The point is that we were a

gged by the wayside. The door of the studio was ajar, and he went in, to discover the place occupied by a lady of mature years, who was scrubbing the floor with a mop. He went into the bedroom and donned his bathing suit. When he emerged

to become confidential. To one who, like Archie, had never owned a bond, the story made little appeal. He turned with more interest to a cheery half-column on the activities of a gentleman in Minnesota who, with what seemed to Archie, as he thought of Mr. Daniel Brewster, a good deal of resource and public spirit

. He began to understand now what had happened. For some reason or other the bally artist was not coming to the studio at all that day. Probably he had called up the hotel and left a message to this e

hie turned back to the st

lab of oak. Somehow or other, since he had left

it!" sai

e had done it unconsciously. As a child, he had been taught by sedulous elders that the little gentleman always closed doors behind him, and presumably his subconscious self was still under the influence. And then, suddenly, he realised that this infernal, of

ined these alternatives narrowly. If he stayed where he was he would have to spend the night on this dashed landing. If he legged it, in this kit, he would be g

s might be J. B. Wheeler, the curse of the human race, died away. Whoever was coming up the stairs was running, and J. B. Wheeler never ran upstairs. He was not one of y

appeared to be in a considerable hurry. He let himself into the studio

an to toddle down one flight of stairs and in an easy and debonair manner ask the chappie's permission to use his telephone? And what could be simpler, once he was at the 'phone, than to get in touch with somebody at the Cosmopolis who would send down a few trousers and what not in a kit bag. It was

and all that sort of thing-but would you mind if I

rchie had prepared to deliver the moment the man appeared. The reason he did n

s

ope attached with a tack to one of the panels was the name "Elmer

ted a moment. "Oh, Mr. Moon! Mr.

n a man with such an unfortunate surname until he could see him face to face and get a chance of lowering his voice a bit. Absolutely absurd to stand outside a chappie's d

ster, harsh, unfriendl

e, revolving sha

s sprinter had produced an automatic pistol, and was pointing it in a trucul

hands up

tely!" said Archie.

able astonishment. Archie's costume seemed

il are you?"

h, my

name. What are

I popped in to ask if I migh

the other's gaze. As a visitor, Archie, though su

to do with you," he

let me toddle

appeared to reach a decisio

e open door of what was apparently a be

ttily, "that all this may see

t o

only

time to listen.

o be moving house. Bed, furniture, and floor were covered with articles of clothing. A silk shirt wreathed itself abou

aid Elmer M.

"I suppose you wouldn't like me

't got your spare time. Put y

n proceeded to fasten his ankles in a like manner. This done, he seemed to feel that he had done all t

" said

was what might be called an impressionist packer. His aim appeared to be speed rather than neatness. He bundled his belongings in, closed the bag w

all time. A practical man, he had been content to keep his visitor shackled merely for such a period as would permit him to make his escape unhindered. In less than ten minutes Archie, after

left him right in the middle of a great many clothes. And Mr. Moon, whatever his moral defects, had the one excellent quality of taking about the same size as himself. Archie, c

up h