Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

BING, BANG, BOOM! folks say about him when he’s dead, this world ’d be a Paradise right enough! The only way to really leave a bad name b’hind you is to die on the gallows. An’ then some folks ’d say: ‘ He died brave!’ ”’ He paused. ‘“ Well, son, I’d better be 507 “He didn’t tell me,” said Amos in a | husky voice, ‘“ but I heard him tell it to Ruth Warren. I was jest comin’ up Main Street with this here valise, an’ I seen him an’ her standin’ talkin’. Well, I jest sorter rode up close to where they was an’ I heard movin’ along. I’m glad to see you’re out’n -Turner say that he had yer by the throat that jail, anyways. Now that you’re in the market fer attractions agin, you can’t afford to be in a cell. That’s one place at- tractions won’t be in, even if they do stay around railroad stations an’ things.” “ David,” cried Bert, “‘ that’s the second time you’ve said that. Do you mean—” “ Son,” said David, “ d’you know it ain’t onusual fer a man to ‘hunt high an’ low fer his spectacles an’ then find”’em on his fore- head? An’ usually it takes somebuddy else to tell him they’re there. - So-long, son.” And he turned abruptly and walked casual- ly away. ’ For a moment, Bert stared after him, but ‘this time there was no wonderment de- picted in his-face. Despite the utter irrele- vancy of the station-master’s remark, Bert found it easy of interpretation. “ But if he knows something to help me with the Majestic,” he péndered, “ why the deuce doesn’t he tell me?” He walked back to the Palace, and as he entered the lobby he met Amos, who was crossing to the desk with a suit-case. At sight of Bert, Amos paused midway in his shuffling walk and stared at him with his eyes wide and his lips parted. “ Hello, kid,” said Bert. ‘‘ What’s the matter? Did I forget to put on a collar?” ‘“‘ Gosh!”’ the youth: exploded, still star- ing. “Jiminy Chrismus! I thought yer was a dead corpse!”’ “What?” said Bert, puzzled. did you think I was?” “A dead corpse,” Amos repeated. heard that there Ellis Turner say jest a coupla minits ago that yer was.” Bert scratched his ear. ‘“ Ellis Turner told you that I was dead?” . Amos looked about him cautiously, and finding the lobby deserted, save for the two of them, he thought it to be a propitious time to hold his first conversation with Bert, whom he had long held in an esteem that bordered Closely upon awe. ‘ What even if yer did git outer jail, an’-that yer was a dead one now, anyways. Gee, I thought -sure yer was a dead corpse!” ‘“‘ Did—did you hear Miss Warren say anything?” ventured Bert. ‘“ She didn’t say nothin’,”’ Amos replied. ‘“‘ She jest turned her back on him an’ went inter Blackton’s shoe store. But she got red. > Bd “ Ummmm! ” said Bert, trying to appear unconcerned. ‘“ You’re ‘the boy who works for the station-master, aren’t you?” Amos nodded. ‘“ Yeh. That’s how I come to be up here with this here valise. A man come in on th’ local this mornin’ an’ hired me to carry this here valise up here fer him.” Bert laughed. ‘“ Well, kiddo, I hope you feel better, now that you know that I’m a dead one only figuratively speaking.” ‘It wouldn’t be no surprise ter me if that there Turner did do fer yer,” said Amos in defense of his former fears. ‘“‘ He like ter done fer me once, aw right, an’ he like ter done fer you, too, that time when he took that there Paprika Blake up to the dance ter lick yer.” Bert started. ‘‘ What do you mean?” Amos swallowed hard. He realized all at once that he had forgotten the rule of. reticence that David Hodge had taught him; that he had, indeed, talked more than he should. “JT guess I gotter be. goin’, ” he re- marked, leaving the suit-case in. the center of the lobby, and starting back toward the door. ; But with a leap, Bert was at his side, laying hold of his arm. “Wait just a minute, kiddo,” said Bert. ‘“‘I’d like you to tell me what you meant by saying that—” | “IT didn’t mean nothin’,” replied’ Amos, nervously shifting his weight from foot to foot and avoiding Bert’s eyes. “ Honest Injun, I never.” COUMIUC AOOLK Colin