Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

570 college course. Within three months more, at least, he knew she would be expert. Morgan Hill’s age was around twenty- eight. He was lean, deceptively slight in appearance. His cheekbones were high and his eyes slanted upward at the outer corners. They were black eyes that met your gaze with a steady, sharp look. He had a short nose and a mouth and chin that expressed intense determination, He was almost invariably in a hurry going somewhere or returning, lips compressed, derby hat slightly awry, eyes gleaming, a typical young hustler. “Oh, I stopped at the bank, Miss Arnold,” Hill said offhand. “ Here is your week’s salary.” five and a ten. “‘ Fifteen is right?” Miss Arnold’s fingers seemed to take the two bills reluctantly. ‘“ Ifi—’” she stam- mered, then blushed and changed her mind. ‘Thank you,” she added quietly. “ You are always very prompt, Mr. Hill.” “Yes, yes! briskly. ‘“ Good business, you know. Al- ways meet your bills promptly, Miss Arnold. Keep your credit good. Credit’s a wonderful thing! The backbone of modern business.” Miss Arnold looked at the floor demurely. “Yes, indeed!” she agreed softly. “Yes, siree! Without credit a little busi- ness like mine that started on a shoestring id have an awful time pulling through first years. Credit—that’s the ticket! I’m building on that policy here. If I can establish a clean, bright credit, you see—” “ By the way, Mr. Hill, this telegram came while you were at—the bank.” Morgan Hill made a pitiful attempt to take the telegram from his stenographer with proper nonchalance. His fingers were not quite steady as he ripped open the yel- low envelope. Alice Arnold, pretending to erase a mistake in the letter she was type- writing, secretly watched his face. Hill’s firm lips twisted into a wide, il- luminating grin which he tried to conceal by 2 cough. But his dark eyes still shone with joy as he turned to her. “Mr. Moody is going to see me at dinner!” he exclaimed. “ He accepted my invitation!” He produced two bills, a. Of course!” Hill replied - ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Tsn’t that splendid!” Hill frowned judicially, covering an ela- tion not in keeping with the dignity of busi- ness. ‘“ Humph, well it shows good sense on Moody’s part. An account like ours is pretty well worth their consideration you know.” “Oh, yes—yes, of course, But I am elad—you wanted it to come out that way, didn’t you? I’m very glad!” “Thank you, Miss Arnold. And, let’s see, I guess that’s all for to-day. Must be past five o’clock.” Hiil thrust his hand into the pocket where his handsome gold repeater—a legacy from his father—usually reposed. His fingers encountered instead of the watch a pawn- broker’s ticket and he remembered too late that the watch had just been pledged to produce the two bills he handed his office force and some more for which he had immediate need. “It is.past five o’clock,” he amended hastily. “I know it!” Miss Arnold rose from her machine and covered it with a dust jacket. She straight- ened her small desk and got her hat, paus- ing for a critical survey before the little office mirror. Then she turned impulsively on Hill. “JT wish you the best of luck with Mr. Moody,” she said and her brown eyes shone delightfully. Her hand extended toward ‘Hill’s in an unconscious gesture and Hill prasped it fast. “ Alice, I—” Hill gasped. very much, Miss Arnold. Good night.” The door closed on- Alice Arnold and Hill burst out in bitter self-reproach. ‘‘ Damn! I nearly did it that time! Oh, damn! What an utter ass I can be when I get started!” He paced the room back and forth, clenching his hands and sometimes rumpling his hair till it stood all wild. “You peach!” he raved, addressing the door which had just closed on his steno- grapher. “ You angel! You absolute pip- pin! Oh, damn!” Hill paused in the middle of the room, his fists clasped and held rigidly at his sides, his entire body tense with emotion. ‘* Alice!” he whispered shakily. ‘‘ Alice! if I can just swing this deal to-night, Alice, Thank you. oO “ Thank you. Eomicbooks (E©)