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Adams, Samuel Hopkins, 1871-1958

"The Unspeakable Perk"

I should consider any delay after twenty-four hours
risky for your party."
"What shall you do? Stay?"
"Oh, I've my place in the mountains. That's remote enough to be
safe. Thank Heaven, there's a cloud over the sun! Let's sit down
by this tree for a minute."
Unthinkingly, as he stretched himself out, the Unspeakable Perk
pushed his goggles back and presently slipped them off. Thus, when
Carroll, who had been gazing at the mist-capped peak of the
mountain in front, turned and met his companion's eyes, he
underwent something of the same shock that Polly Brewster had
experienced, though the nature of his sensation was profoundly
different. But his impression of the suddenly revealed face was
the same. Ribbed-in though his mind was with tradition, and
distorted with falsely focused ideals and prejudices, Preston
Fairfax Fitzhugh Carroll possessed a sound underlying judgment of
his fellow man, and was at bottom a frank and honorable gentleman.
In his belief, the suddenly revealed face of the man beside him
came near to being its own guaranty of honor and good faith.
"By Heavens, I don't believe it!" he blurted out, his gaze direct
upon the Unspeakable Perk.


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