Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

"DESERT my meat and drink to aces a st cause. Let me introduce myself: Hayden’s my name—Frederick Hayden, representing the Kansas City Silo, Vat, and Farm Build- ing Corporation. : “No! I know you don’t want to buy anything for your ranch. It isn’t a matter of business this little conversation of ours. And yet, in a manner of speaking, it is!” “Business?” Hallie asked with wide open eyes. ‘‘ No, you must be mistaken. I am just a girl from the Seven C’s outfit. You’re a man from the East—a man from the city.” “You are looking for a job—that’s a matter of business right there. -You imme- diately cease to be a farmer’s daughter and become a business woman. I might say the moment that idea gets into your head you become a financier! — “Oh, T know old Doxey, the skinflint and reformer, says there’s no chance for you in this town. But when he says that, he merely turns you over to me—or rather the Fates and Destinies. and pisters Three turn you over to mel The fact is, my = as is the juckiest hour of your life. dence it happens that I came to town scarce- ly half an hour before you! It’s an act of - Providence. “This is the kind of hour which palm- ists tell us of—the kind of an hour which makes a red mark on a horoscope or a line in the palm of your hand. It’s an hour which astrologers can read in the stars!” ‘“ That’s some language you’re speaking,” Zs the girl remarked. _ The fat Mexican waitress waddled into the room—huge of stomach—a cotton bag of red with black polka dots and a pattern of grease. She slid a heavy white bowl of watery soup on the table before Hallie. ' The girl reached hungrily for a spoon. But Hayden put up his hand with a ges- ture eloquent of command, disgust and ex- asperation. ; ‘ Take it away!” he cried. “ Take away that mess of greasy pottage! I myself shall order this dinner. None of your fried table d@héte for this lady! Husks for the swine ~~ to eat! == the Western ranges! == By the merest coinci- = ‘Whereas, here we have a lady of © VOICES. “ A broiler done to a turn, ee ‘Let her have one of those chickens. I ordered. And put on a pot of my coffee; drop in an ege shell, bring it to a boil till the crust breaks!” He turned to Hallie: “If you — will be so gracious as to accept my hospi tality!” Hallie Crockett gaped in surprise. Her mother back on the ranch had not given any directions how to act in cases of this _ sort, She had thought at first that the man was suspiciously friendly and a little auda- cious, but if he was actually inviting ber— Be = z a stranger—to dinner, it surely meant. that = he was a gentleman. ae “Don’t refuse!” Fred Hayden said pers = ae Ave Het aie hy , — Mi Let Al i OL ALWRAL Fy Ae TOA mW) Oe Tesh wah Hy ie ees emptorily. “ That you cannot. do under — = - “ Well, say, mister, if you don’t take my — breath away!” > Hallie exclaimed. Ss “Good! The lady accents! Hayden: eS “nounced, turning to. ‘the waitress “A broiler!” = = = The Mexican woman Gavi aaer the = strange girl from the peak of her dusty som=- brero down to the little enol came to some = = = cc T must say, mister, you're very kind? —— “Not at all. You are probably laboring = = = under a delusion. When a little. girl ike you, fresh, as one might say, from the wind- — = = = ‘swept mesas comes to town, you must re-- == member that in the hearts of all men here = there burns a vital—an age-old desire fo ae take off our cloaks and spread them upon — = = tee mud =e ose little fee will not a = board floor. == ““ My goodness!” Hallie Crockett cried | in esr the accents of a delighted boy. “ = : certainly a soe of AEE ieee SS as CHAPTER IIT. MINUS THE WINE. —— 2 & S Hallie Crockett was eating the SS her news found ‘a had