The Table of Contents was not in the original text and has been created for the convenience of the reader.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 17
Q U I N
CHAPTER 1
If the dollar Quinby Graham tossed up on New Year's eve had not elected to slip through his fingers and roll down the sewer grating, there might have been no story to write. Quin had said, "Tails, yes"; and who knows but that down there under the pavement that coin of fate was registering "Heads, no"? It was useless to suggest trying it over, however, for neither of the young privates with town leave for twenty-four hours possessed another coin.
The heavier of the two boys, Cass Martel,--the lame one, whose nose began quite seriously, as if it had every intention of being a nose, then changed abruptly into a button,--scraped the snow from the sewer grating with his cane, and swore savagely under his breath. But Quin shrugged his shoulders with a slow, easy-going laugh.
"That settles it," he said triumphantly. "We got to go to the Hawaiian Garden now, because it's the only place that's free!"
"I'll be hanged if I know what you want to go to a dance for," argued his companion fiercely. "Here you been on your back for six months, and your legs so shaky they won't hardly hold you. Don't you know you can't dance?"
"Sure," agreed Quin amicably. "I don't mean to dance. But I got to go where I can see some girls. I'm dead sick of men. Come on in. We don't need to stay but a little while."
"That's too long for me," said Cass. "If you weren't such a bonehead for doing what you start out to do, we could do something interesting."
One might have thought they were Siamese twins, from the way in which Cass ignored the possibility of each going his own way. He glared at his tall companion with a mingled expression of rage and dog-like devotion.
"Cut it out, Cass," said Quin at last, putting an end to an argument that had been in progress for fifteen minutes. "I'm going to that dance, and I'm going to make love to the first girl that looks at me. I'll meet you wherever you say at six o'clock."
Cass, seeing that further persuasion was useless, reluctantly consented.
"Well, you take care of yourself, and don't forget you are going home with me for the night," he warned.
"Where else could I go? Haven't got a red cent, and I wouldn't go back out to the hospital if I had to bunk on the curbstone! So long, _cherie_!"
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Quin by Alice Caldwell Hegan Rice
- 2: In spite of repeated warnings at the hospital
- 3: Quin could not hear the answer
- 4: Ever since I was gassed Gassed
- 5: Asked Quin with tragic insistence
- 6: And send Myrna next door to borrow a chafing dish
- 7: Myrna refused to negotiate on any such drastic terms
- 8: Myrna will have loads of time to do it in the morning
- 9: Quin studied the end of his cigarette
- 10: Said Quin with heartfelt satisfaction
- 11: Quin sighed profoundly and slipped his arm under his head
- 12: It was up there old Corpy had got his head shot off
- 13: Quin staked all on a chance shot
- 14: During which Quin had his hair cut and his face shaved
- 15: But Quin had little time for them
- 16: Quin regarded him with growing disfavor
- 17: Captain Phipps has got to let you off
- 18: He was ten years older than Eleanor
- 19: Eleanor roused herself with a start
- 20: Captain Phipps lazily descended from the car
- 21: Flinging her coat across the banister
- 22: The meek one evidently understood
- 23: I suppose Aunt Isobel has attended to them
- 24: Remembering her promise to her Aunt Enid
- 25: Cried Eleanor with tragic insistence
- 26: Quin threw off with a great show of indifference
- 27: Cass says girls are always crazy about him
- 28: Cass is going to let me take you home
- 29: Quin didn't know what was the matter with him
- 30: Captain Phipps all unnoticed passed out of the mess hall
- 31: When Eleanor paused for breath
- 32: There's Aunt Flo and Uncle Ranny
- 33: Said Aunt Enid with trembling reassurance
- 34: Quin worked slowly and awkwardly
- 35: When Quin finished he looked at her with frank admiration
- 36: Sholdier friend's had a little too much champagne
- 37: Provided Quin would later submit to the same treatment
- 38: Bangs has been telephoning me about them all day
- 39: Martel put an end to the discussion of the Bartletts
- 40: It will be Claude Martel who gives her her heart's desire
- 41: Quin listened with absorbed attention
- 42: Quin looked at him quizzically
- 43: Quin got out of the office with a hot head
- 44: Quin was hopelessly committed to cats in general
- 45: But Quin saw little of all this
- 46: Quin afterward assured the Martels
- 47: Madam listened with close attention
- 48: Wholesome family life of the Martels for the silent
- 49: Said Quin with laughing significance
- 50: Miss Isobel and Miss Enid stood aghast at his temerity
- 51: Suggested Quin enthusiastically
- 52: Persisted Quin with his terrible directness
- 53: It's you and Miss Isobel I can't understand
- 54: Quin took kindly to the coddling
- 55: Miss Isobel admitted miserably
- 56: Quin looked at her quizzically
- 57: He insisted upon Quin taking the best chair
- 58: This suggestion afforded Quin an inspiration
- 59: Quin gave her his undivided attention
- 60: Quin couldn't resist the thrust on behalf of Mr
- 61: Quin looked at the two gentle sisters in dumb amazement
- 62: Laughed Quin with a superior shrug
- 63: Quin adjusted it as best he could
- 64: Quin was experiencing the wholly new sensation of timidity
- 65: Quin ventured at this inopportune moment
- 66: Chester and Miss Enid proceeded to demonstrate
- 67: Harold Phipps is years older than Nellie
- 68: Martel would mention quite confidentially to Quin that
- 69: But Papa Claude was not to be consoled
- 70: Martel looked slightly embarrassed
- 71: Martel in a burst of confidence
- 72: Did Uncle Ranny tell you the way we shocked the aunties
- 73: Ranny inquired concerning his mission
- 74: Ranny made heroic efforts to entertain their unwelcome guest
- 75: Quin whispered back apologetically
- 76: Ranny see the place painted and clean
- 77: Ranny looked at her in amazement
- 78: Demanded Quin with terrible directness
- 79: While Quin solicitously examined a rear tire
- 80: Quin asked one morning at breakfast
- 81: But Quin did not wait for him to arrive
- 82: Cass at this moment cautiously opened the front door
- 83: And yet moves all the slumbering surges of the world
- 84: And dumb to everything but Eleanor
- 85: Said Quin with pardonable pride
- 86: Quin contemplated his clasped fists earnestly
- 87: Cass was laid low with typhoid fever
- 88: And Myrna could help around the house
- 89: And Quin was on duty through the long
- 90: What would happen if Cass should die
- 91: Chester shook his head and smiled primly
- 92: Until Quin heard his name called
- 93: Ranny are studying out the whole business scientifically
- 94: Then Quin began to laugh a confident
- 95: He's the most cosmopolitan man I ever met
- 96: Quin laid his arm along the sofa
- 97: Middle aged people like Aunt Enid and Mr
- 98: Quin sat hunched up in his wedding suit
- 99: And that wonderful saxophone and the big bass drum
- 100: Eleanor pinned on her orchids and moved away
- 101: It was not that Harold Phipps was popular
- 102: Eleanor laughed in embarrassment
- 103: Eleanor sighed helplessly and looked at Harold
- 104: Eleanor was blissfully unaware of it
- 105: She abandoned herself to impulse
- 106: Often when she and Quin were alone together
- 107: In the hall she met Miss Isobel
- 108: If it hadn't been for Quin So they sponged on him too
- 109: Just what was the object of the proceeding Quin had no idea
- 110: Dirk was beside himself with rage
- 111: Said Quin with ill concealed pride
- 112: Quin patted her shoulder reassuringly
- 113: Phipps the condescending lord of creation
- 114: Quin brushed the suggestion aside
- 115: But even as she spoke Quin was rushing for the door
- 116: Quin dropped into a troubled sleep
- 117: Quin watched her fingers drumming on the shelf
- 118: If Harold Phipps had received my telegram last night
- 119: Eleanor brushed the suggestion aside impatiently
- 120: Quin wait a minute I won't go to grandmother's
- 121: She made Quin think of Minerva when Mr
- 122: Quin laid a quieting hand on her arm
- 123: If she just won't marry that man Phipps
- 124: He knew that the subject under discussion was Harold Phipps
- 125: And that she would write and explain her silly telegram
- 126: Quin would say enthusiastically
- 127: When Eleanor was in the house alone
- 128: Quin will get you aboard all right
- 129: Quin went to see Madam Bartlett
- 130: Quin had succeeded him as official switchman
- 131: The dinner was one of the best Quin had ever tasted
- 132: Quin saw his chance and seized it
- 133: When Quin went up to his room at eleven o'clock
- 134: Quin wondered if she was young
- 135: That was what Quin imagined took place
- 136: And she looked at Quin appealingly
- 137: And held out a welcoming hand to Quin
- 138: Quin felt smothered by the incense and the flattery
- 139: Quin gave a mighty sigh of relief at being out of it
- 140: This time a barely perceptible nod stirred the cherries
- 141: Quin followed her into the apartment
- 142: And she looked at Quin suspiciously
- 143: Eleanor flung back just so you leave me alone
- 144: Quin used to tell himself this again and again
- 145: Quin let them do whatever they wanted
- 146: Quin realized it was a block to the car line
- 147: Pfingst is a prince of good fellows
- 148: Pfingst that I am not coming to his party
- 149: Or such unspeakable insinuations as Estelle Linton's
- 150: Quinby Graham came unsteadily toward her
- 151: Chester and Miss Enid deluged him with magazines and flowers
- 152: Eleanor would return to New York
- 153: Miss Isobel twittered excitedly to Quin
- 154: She glared at Quin like an angry old lioness
