Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

) WHERE about as carefully, and she smiled suddenly and showed some magnificent teeth as she said: “Ts Mr. Berford coming?” “Well, no, I’m afraid he’s not,” I said. “Mr. Berford is in conference and can’t be disturbed. Have you an appointment with him?” “An appointment?” the girl repeated, and opened those magnificent eyes. “‘ Why, no, of course not.” ‘Then if you'll give me your name and address and the nature of your business, miss, Pll take it up with Mr. Berford and let you know when-—and if—he can see you.” | _ And I pulled out the pencil and the lit- tle notebook with the regular flourish and prepared to write—and all the girl did was to stare at me as if she didn’t understand at all. “TI wish to see Mr. Berford zow!” she explained. _ “But, as I said, he’s in conference and—” “Well, that doesn’t make a bit of differ- ence,” she informed me. “I wish to see him new!” Her nice little nose dilated; she seemed to be growing quite fretful. I produced the reliable old smile, which usually eases them out of the office like so much grease. It didn’t work with her. She stamped her foot. ‘Tn fact, I insist®upon seeing him now,” she added. ‘ Go, at once, and say that I insist!” Once in a while, you know, they stick like that; or they stick until Mr. Berford comes out with fire in his eye, and they don’t stick very long afterward. It dawned on me suddenly that this girl was a Grade A sticker and that I might talk myself hoarse without budging her! “Tf youll give me your name and your business—” I began! “J shall not give you my name!”’ (<4 But—”’ *¢ And I shall most certainly zot tell you the nature of my business! Now tell Mr. Berford that I wish to see him!”’ I left her there. I found the president with the directors all back in the state of WAS I? 171 pure admiration, telling him that not one of them believed broken mirrors had any real consequences and sort of thanking him for dispelling any little shakiness they may have had on the subject for a minute or two. He glanced up at me with a dry smile and I told him about the girl. ‘‘ Name?” he said. ‘* She wouldn’t give it.” ‘“‘ What does she want?” ‘‘ She wouldn’t tell me that, either.” ‘““Can’t see her!”’ said the president and turned back to the table. ‘Well, excuse me, Mr. Berford,” I said. “ but this young lady looks determined and I don’t think she’s selling anything. I think she has some personal matter that she wants to talk about and she—er—she in- sists on seeing you.” ‘You're a pretty good judge of people, Henry,” smiled Mr. Berford. ‘“ Find out what she’s after if you can. If it seems necessary make an appointment for three o’clock to-morrow. That hour’s open?” ‘You see the railroad people at three fifteen,” I reminded him. The boss grinned! The overwhelming good humor was back upon him. “‘T can get rid of any woman in the world in five minutes, Henry,” he said. ‘‘ Make it for three.” So I went back to the girl and she glanced behind me to see if the president was following, and when he wasn’t her nos- trils dilated again. ‘“‘ Where will he see me?” she demanded. “In his office,” I said, just as smoothly as possible, ‘‘ tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock. And please be on time, because ab three fifteen—’’ “To-morrow?” she echoed very sharply. ‘“‘ But I don’t want to see him to-morrow; I want to see him to-day—” “ But if you will call to-morrow—” She drew back her pretty head and looked me in the eye. “T am calling zow/!’’ she said. ‘‘ Go back to Mr. Berford and tell him that!” c< But’ That is as far as I was permitted to go. Her blue eyes were snapping now, and if a girl as pretty as all that can look danger- ous, that is what she OTA CINOOKGECOIn