Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

THE DESPERATE YOUNG MAN. “Your hat, sir,” remarked the porter, regarding Mr. Chedworth’s obsolescent headgear with a fixed, inimical stare. Mr. Chedworth convulsively removed his hat. “Cloakroom on the right,” stated the porter, as one engaged in repressing an af- front to the establishment. Mr. Chedworth went obediently to the counter of the cloakroom and surrendered his hat to another uniformed attendant, who gazed at it with a similar sardonic mis- favor to that exhibited by his colleague. ‘How much?” queried Mr. Chedworth. *‘ No charge.” “ Tip you now, and get it over,” offered Mr. Chedworth, with some idea of buying the man’s respect and good will. “ And your pal—does he—” ‘‘ We share—sir.” “ Right you are!” said Mr. Chedworth, and banged down a half crown on the coun- ter very affably and conspicuously. ‘ That’s between you!” He’d show ’em he was a jolly sight better off than they were guessing by his hat! But the fellow did not seem greatly im- pressed. Indeed, his pained, disdainful mien suggested that Mr. Chedworth had been close-fisted and indelicate. Perhaps, thought Mr. Chedworth, it wasn’t so much of a tip after all. Half a crown was a lot to him—used to be, anyway. But this was an expensive place. He wondered what he would have to tip the waiter. He ought to have remembered to ask Mr. Steb- bings that. Bit awkward, when you were not used to tipping. Mr. Chedworth found himself being shepherded into a vast, glittering, noisy apartment, where one waiter passed him to another along the narrow aisles that ran between the crowded tables. He followed his guides blushingly and uncomfortably, with increasing realization that he was an incongruity in this confident, well groomed throng. More than once he sought to glide into some vacant chair, but he was inexora- bly conducted to a remote corner where the ultimate waiter, after one single appraising vlance at him, accepted delivery of him with no more zeal or interest than he would have accepted delivery of a sack of straw. 287 Rather surlily he accommodated Mr. Chedworth with a seat at a table where he could see little and could be but little seen himself. Mr. Chedworth decided that he was the kind of customer they wished to keep out of sight as much as possible. Quite frankly, he didn’t blame them. On the whole, he was glad they had taken this line with him He’d enjoy his lunch all the more. There were two other guests at the table, but they had finished their meal and were clearly meditating departure. One of them —a big, leather faced man with two fiery pimples on his cheek, and an air of dour, angry opposition; the other was a much younger man, plainly dressed in clothes which were no longer new but still pre- served an appearance of quality and good © taste. The face of this young man was handsome in a boyish way, but it was pallid and troubled, and he was sitting back with arms folded, staring dejectedly at the tablecloth. Mr. Chedworth, beyond a furtive, apolo- getic smirk at them as he sat down, did not give heed to either man, for he was now confronted with the task of ordering his lunch and the prospect filled him with trepidation. The matter, however, proved unexpect- edly easy, for no sooner had Mr. Ched- worth indistinctly mentioned ‘‘ Er—lunch, please,” than the waiter whipped out three or four suggestions as though they were commands, and then, without waiting for a reply, walked away. He had returned with a disconcerting number of little dishes, and was ranging them before Mr. Chedworth, when abrupt- ly the big man opposite pushed back his chair, Well, I’m off,” he announced brusque- ly. “ Busy. Thanks for the feed.” The younger man, rousing himself from his dejection, turned appealingly to his companion, “Then—then you won’t?” he asked. The big man, pursing his lips tightly, shook his head. “ But—but—” pleaded the young man, and laid his hand on the other’s sleeve. ere ” : ; iA nen e No good,” said the pig, eRe ¢