Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

MR. STOKES’ “This here Benson Bank’s going aiter the money on a bond scheme—teal pig’s eye, too—World’s Oil & Refining seven per cent first mortgage—”’ ‘Don’t make me laugh; there’s no profit in bonds.” “ That’s all right. The bank’s got a guy out, and he’s doing quite some little busi- ness; and what do you think? He’s taking Alhambra in exchange for bonds; can you beat that?” Stokes threw back his head and roared. It was the funniest thing he’d ever heard in his life. It was simply too ridiculous to be true. Why— ‘“ Charlie, I always supposed you were as truthful as a con man could be; but, say, this time you’ve sure slopped over. Tell us something that’s at least plausible.” ‘Vou can believe it or not,” said Char- lie, a trifle injured. ‘‘ I don’t give a damn; it’s a fact.” “Well, who the hell ever thought of that bright idea? The bonds can’t be much good.” ‘Good as wheat, Stokesie. There isn’t anything better. It’s that little jane that runs the bank—”’ “Oh, her! Well, maybe that explains it. A dame will do ’most anything. Say, why didn’t I go and sell her a big block of Al- hambra, if she thinks it’s that good? Still—” Stokes remembered his one brief inter- view with Miss Benson. ‘“What the devil is she up to, do you suppose ?”’ “T don’t know; but don’t fool yourself. She’s wise to Alhambra, all right. Of course she’s only getting it in small blocks, because 1 never got any big chunks of it planted. And what do you think? She’s knocking all oil stocks right and left. She’s giving those hicks the straight tip about oil promotions, and wherever [ run across her bond sales- man’s trail I had some darned embarrassin’ questions handed me.”’ Stokes looked thoughtful. He was al- ways suspicious of anything he could not understand. Suddenly he said: “ Charlie, I guess it’s about time I blew this town. I’ve got a hunch all is not well along the Potomac to-night—not at all ACCOUNT. 511 well. Dog-gone it, I never did like that little skirt, and I knew she didn’t like me the minute she took a look at my pleasing map. Say, Charles, take it from me—she’s deep and she’s smart, and she’s a smooth worker. And I’m going away from here before it is too late.” VII. Ir Stokes had come to his decision to quit Templeton a day or two sooner, he might not have found it too late. He had nearly two hundred thousand dollars in bonds and on deposit with the Sands County Trust & Savings. It was going to look mighty suspicious if he drew it all out at once. Well, that was all right. He knew a way. He drew a check payable to the Alhambra Leasing & Drilling Company for all but a few dollars. ~ That would look fairly plausible, since he was supposed to have been selling stock for the benefit of the Alhambra treasury. Then, with a rub- ber stamp and a flourish of the pen, he indorsed the check over his own name as treasurer of the oil company and started with every “appearance of leisureliness for the bank. A young man—Win Sayles, as it hap- pened—touched him on the arm. “Hello, Mr. Sayles,” said Stokes cor- dially. “ How’s things?” “Mr. Stokes, Miss Benson asked me if I’d run over here and see if you’d mind dropping into the bank for a few min- utes.” “Well, now, you tell Miss Benson I’d love to; but just now I’ve got an errand to do that won’t wait. How’d a half hour from now do?” “[’m afraid it wouldn’t do, Mr. Stokes. She seemed to think it was important enough to ask you to come right away.” “ Well, I can’t—not now.” “You better,” said Win Sayles. “ You better, if you have any regard for your health; at least, that’s my advice.” “Tl do no such thing. Think I’m at the beck and call of every dame that hap- pens to have a job in a bank? Who the hell is your Miss Benson, I’d like to know?” “You better,” repeated Win softly. Comichbooks.com