Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

10 “Free from the annoying familiarities of strangers with innate desire for other peo- ple’s property and instincts for moving it swiftly away from here?” “You mean stole?” “Tis a hard and bitter word, but even so.” ‘““ Ain’t nothin’ been stole around here since Ezra Twilliger’s horse was took ’way back in 787.” ‘* Oh, yes, there has!” corrected Rollin. ce Has?” ““Eh-huh!” nodded Rollins. “ Several things have been took, pilfered, purloined, stolen—right off my delicate person—a watch, a ring—” “Oh, my goodness grief!” “Which advances the criminal record thirty-six years.” ‘¢ T’ll call up the sheriff—” “No, no,” protested Rollin. second-hand man.” “A wot?” “An uncle—a rags-and-o’ iron man—a junk dealer.” “ Fer wot?” “T wish to negotiate a barter, an ex- change, a bit of premoney purchasing when men swapped this for that. Now here is an automobile tire, not new, but still worth, let us say, the price of a supper.” “‘ Oh,” smiled the proprietor. “ You want to eat.” “Such a little word can hardly express it. ‘Such is my beastly craving for gross food that I cannot think of a solitary thing on earth good to eat that I don’t like and only yesterday I had trouble finding any- thing that appealed to my taste on a menu two feet long.” ‘“ Hunery folks don’t need anything but an appetite to eat here.” “ Then I qualify. I’ve got all the appe- tite I should have had scattered over thirty- five years.” The proprietor called loudly down the hall to wife and daughter: “ Cynthia—Cynthia—a guest, an’ a mighty hungry one, too. Rosella, set a place fer a delegate from starving India.” “ Wait,” begged Rollin. “It’s only fair to tell you in advance that I have no money.” “Call a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, “I kin remember when nobody had any money in these parts.” “But I’m as hungry as seven years of famine and as dry as an old boot in a dusty garret.” “ Ah—dry, eh?” The proprietor pulled a long face at this and rocked slowly back and forth on his two feet, glaring at the newcomer. “Take off your disguise! I know ye!” he cried suddenly. “ You’re a rev-a-noo officer!” “No,” said Rollin. “Ym only one of the hundred million common criminals.” The proprietor was still glaring. ‘““A couple of rev-a-noo officers dropped in town last spring.” ce Did ??? “Uh-huh. One dropped in front of the post office an’ t’other farther up th’ street.” “Oh,” said Rollin. “ You can tell by the honest look in my eye that I’m not a revenue officer.” | “Then how much is it a case?” “An empty pocket is proof enough that i am not a bootlegger.” “Then,” said the old man, “ that leaves me one more guess—you’re a customer.” “JT am. My craving just now,” said Rollin, “ is for sustenance.” “Oh, hell, you can eat anywhere, any time, but you can drink only when you get a chance!” ? “Ym not taking any chances.” The old fellow shook his head sadly “Tl believe this is prohibition,” said he, “when I see another feller refuse a good drink.” “Tempt me with food!” “We all have our little weaknesses. If yours is th’ fleshpots, come on.” It was just the kind of a supper the doc- tors say is bad for the human interior— and, therefore, just the kind that all of us enjoy best. There were hot biscuits and raspberry honey; cold roast pork and creamed potatoes; a pitcher of rich cream; sweet preserves and sour pickles and pep- pery things that do taste so good. Pie— two kinds—a plate of rich cake—coffee! Tf Rollin had ever eaten such a meal in the presence of his physicians they would have reduced his time on earth to hours in- CoOTnmicloooks (S@)