Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOAT-GETTER. that rhinoceros hide and puncture the fel- low’s monumental self-satisfaction. Reed felt like a man going under for the last time, and not a straw in sight to buoy him up. “Yes, sir,” Daly repeated happily, “ that’s exactly the way I was. Listen, old man, I’m going to lend you that book. It will do you a lot of good!” ' He turned to the door. “ Now I guess I’d better have it out with Blevitt.” Something snapped in Reed’s mind and brought events into sharper focus. “‘ Wait!” he said. “ I’ve got to talk to Blevitt first.” Sinking for the last time, Rudolph Reed had finally perceived not a straw, but a whole life raft. Christmas or no Christmas, this -marble-headed jackass was going to get what had so long been coming to him! VI. Reep paused before he opened the door to the outer office and exchanged a last word with J. K. Blevitt. Both men were grinning wide, wicked grins. “No slip-ups, now, J. K! or relenting!”’ J K. Blevitt grasped an imaginary ax in both hands and flourished it around his head. He ran his thumb across the imag- inary cutting edge of the imaginary tool and declared grimly: “ This ax has got an edge like a razor! Bring on your victim!” Reed paused uncertainly. “ It seems kind of a shame after all, doing this on Christ- mas.” ** You’re too timid, Rudolph! right, you’re a little, timid runt.” “Damn him!” Reed groaned. “He brought it on himself!” He opened the door and called into the outer office: “‘ Oh, Daly! Mr. Blevitt will talk to you now.” Simms Daly came in humming in his resonant barytone. He sat himself in the chair J. K. Blevitt offered him with a flash- ing smile for his audience. Reed had a mental picture of a man sit- ting down in the electric chair. But with a difference. Ja the electric chair a man knows what is going to happen to him! “You wanted to talk to me?” J. K. Blevitt grunted. “Yes, Blevitt, I - did.” No softening Daly was The victim 233 reached his offensive paw toward J. K. Blevitt and succeeded in getting in a friend- ly pat on Blevitt’s arm before Blevitt got out of range. “TI hope you'll take what I am going to say in the spirit it is meant. I know you will,” Daly said. ‘“ I’m sure you're eager to do the right and square thing, Blevitt. You’re a good old scout.” Thanks!” J. K. Blevitt choked. “And in a way, Blevitt, I’m sorry to bring up this matter at Christmas time. After your open-handed liberality to all of us, I—it doesn’t seem grateful. But a man’s got to think of himself first, hasn’t he?” “Yes,” said J. K. Blevitt. He smiled craftily. ‘“ That’s all right, my boy, speak whatever is preying on your mind.” “T will. Yes, indeed! We’re all friends here, I hope! We understand each other! Well, as I was telling Rudolph, I’ve sold more goods for you than any two men. I’ve built up your business, haven’t I?” Blevitt said gravely: ‘“ Undoubtedly the present state of excellent prosperity in the J. K. Blevitt company is largely due to you, Daly.” “Yeah, and I’m a crackerjack, go-get- ting salesman, just like I told you when I came here.” “No use denying it, Daly!” “Tm probably worth, right now, more than any two men working for you, eh, Blevitt?”’ “ Indubitably.” ce Ehe” Yes. deny it?” “‘ But I only get the pay of one salesman, don’t 1?” J. K. Blevitt nodded sympathetically. * When I’m worth twice as much?” J. K. Blevitt performed a secret little pantomime of a man testing the razor keen- ness of an ax preparatory to sinking said imaginary ax into the thick skull of Simms Daly, this for the benefit of Rudolph Reed, who acknowledged the comedy by the slightest flicker of an eyelash. Aloud Ble- vitt agreed: ‘‘ You state the case precisely, Daly.” “Then,” said Daly, “we come to the $ #9? g point! ConmichookS.comn Yes, you are, my boy. Why