Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

I never said anything about it before in this office. Didn’t want to give ’em a chance to laugh at me. But now—” “But have you actually drawn any money yet?” persisted Mr. Stebbings. Mr. Chedworth produced a faded old wallet from his breast pocket and opened it to give view of pristine paper contents. “Drew two hundred this morning, as a start,” he said. “In fives and tens, and two fifties. No trouble about that?” *“‘ Are you sure they’re genuine?” “I got them straight from the bank, sir.” “ Um-m,” observed Mr. Stebbings, and appeared to be a trifle disappointed. “Sounds all right,” he conceded reluc- tantly, “Oh, I know it’s all right, sir,” asserted the little clerk. “The papers and things I’ve had to sign! Holford & Jackson, they are the solicitors. Most helpful they’ve been, sir.” Mr. Stebbings, after a long, brittle pause, rather testily announced that he was jig- gered. “So was I, sir, when I first heard it,” eagerly agreed Mr. Chedworth. “ And so —so I do hope, gentlemen, you won’t take any offense at me wishing to leave? You— you see how it is?” “My grandfather never even had a brother, as far as I know!” Mr. Stebbings stated fretfully as though he were drawing the attention of Providence to an instance of unfair treatment. ‘ Oh, well,” he end- ed magnanimously, and, rising from his» seat, held out his hand to the fortunate legatee.”’ “Very much obliged to you, sir, ’m sure,” mumbled Mr. Chedworth, redden- ing with gratification. “ Congratulate you,’ said the junior partner, looking up and nodding and look- ing down again. “ And thank you, sir. And—and I shall be sorry to leave the firm.” “We shall be sorry to lose you, Ched- worth,” said Mr. Stebbings handsomely. “Of course, I suppose you'd like to leave at once, to-day?” “Thought I’d finish the week out, sir.” “Yes, you would!” remarked Mr. Steb- bings; and though he did not explain his ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. meaning more fully, he regarded the mild little man with something like amused af- fection. “ ’Pon my word, Chedworth, it’s only now that you’re going— You’ye been with us a long time, and you’ve been a— a faithful servant, Chedworth.” Mr. Chedworth’s eyes brimmed. All the long years of drudgery on a grudged, in- sufficient salary were forgotten in this one moment of frank admission. “[—I always tried to do my best, sir. Always been my—my motto, so to speak. And I—lI dare say you’re wondering what I’m going to do with myself in future, sir, now I’m—lI’m independent?” “Launch out a bit, I suppose,” put for- ward Mr. Stebbings. ‘“ Theaters, motor car—that sort of thing, eh? Go in for gar- dening, eh? Conservatory, and all that sart of thing. Have a good time all round.” “ Golf,” laconically remarked the panier: partner, crouched over his desk. “As a matter of fact—” began Mr. Chedworth awkwardly. “ Well—you see, my wife—” He stopped, shook his head in a puz- zled way, and tried a fresh line. ‘“ That’s —that’s where the favor comes in that I mentioned just now,” he said. ‘ I—I told her you had taken me from the indoor staff and given me a job as commercial traveler. for the Hee. y “ But— a ae: don’t know about the legacy. I’ve thought it all out very careful, sir, and I—I believe I’m acting for the best. I don’t want her to know about the money. It ‘IHl—it ’ll only spoil everything for her.” “T don’t understand, Chedworth. Do you think it’s quite fair— I mean—” — “My wife— Well, it’s difficult to ex- plain, sir. She’s—she’s sort of ambitious. And the people she’d meet, on our three thousand a year—they’d snub her. She’d never be comfortable. Always trying to claim her position and getting snubbed. You see what I mean?” “ Out of her element?” said the junior partner, ‘“ Exactly, sir. We’d move to some swell neighborhood, and—and she wouldn’t be happy nor comfortable. But if I—if she’s got the extra money to svend what she_