Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

ROLL YOUR OWN. sorry, but I’ve got some peop coming for a conference.” ‘““What time?” ‘“About—about three!” James answered dizzily. “Huh?” cried Mr. Budlong, and sud- denly thrust out his chin and peered at James. ‘‘ You have a conference at three— but you may be able to make a train be- fore three! I caught you that time! I caught you lying! Why?” Hands on his knees, he leaned farther and farther forward, coming ever nearer to Mr. Cranning, and smiling horribly, with teeth bared. Slowly, cautiously, James braced his feet or: the floor as he prepared for the emer- gency backward push that should send over his chair, and send himself leaping through the office door. For there was now no earthly doubt about Mr. Budlong’s mental condition; the trouble was coming to a climax, and the gentleman was about to jump! “ Wait a minute, Fred,” Mr. Cranning said very, very quietly. “The conference is at two. You're acting like such a lunatic to-day that you’ve tangled me all up. Upon my soul, I don’t even know what I’m say- ing! If you'll get some kind of grip on yourself, V’ll try to talk rationally.” One instant, Mr. Budlong stared. Then he relaxed, and sat back and, for another instant, pressed his hand to his forehead, and closed his eyes. “Don’t mind me, Jim. not just myself,” he mumbled. hammering pretty hard lately.” ‘“ Ves—yes,”’ purred James. “ And another thing, Jim,” Budlong said I—I know I’m ‘ Been sharply. “ There was a time when I trusted people! ” c¢ Ape” “Ves I trusted anybody—I trusted everybody!” the gentleman cried harshly. “ But then I found Dot, and I—” As if he had literally bitten them off, the words ceased! Mr. Budlong started so perceptibly that the chair moved. Yes, and now he was reddening, suddenly and darkly, and quite failing to face James! The latter stared his warranted astonishment. 425 “Yes; Dot and you did what?” “What?” gtunted Mr. Budlong. “What were you saying about Dot?” “T wasn’t saying anything about Dot!” stated the visitor, and gazed fixedly at James. “Why, you said—” “T said I didn’t trust anybody—and I don’t,” Budlong snapped. “I said I used to trust everybody, and then I found it was rot, and I quit—something like that. Is that what you mistook for Dot?” “Possibly,” murmured Mr. Cranning. “ But I certainly thought— The pnlontaxaie man gazed out of the window. ‘Well, whatever you thought, that’s what I said,” he muttered. ‘‘ Say, Jim! Can’t you cut out the other things, and meet me at quarter past three for that train?” - An instant, James considered. At the very worst, there are always plenty of police about a great railroad terminal to look after the lone, unhappy stranger sud- denly become violent. ‘ All right, I will!” he said heartily. “‘ At the information desk.” “'That’s settled?” with a swift glance. ‘““ Absolutely settled!” “You'll be there sure?”’ “T sure will!” James laughed. Now, weirdly as he seemed to do every- thing else these days, Mr. Budlong permit- ted himself one long, last stare, and abrupt- Budlong demanded ly turned limp. Strangely, fishily he gazed at James, and smiled. “Well, that’s fine—much obliged,” the mumbled. “One good thing about you, Jim; you’re sort of open-faced. I mean, if you were lying to a man, he’d know it in a second. Then I'll see you at quarter past three—- Phew! Sort of shot, aint [?” ‘‘ Sort of—not much,” James agreed. ‘““More’n you know!” Mr. Budlong said with an unexpected, cackling laugh. “‘ Well, I’m going back to the office, and lock my door, and lie down for an hour, old man. Bye!” Well, at least he had removed his ravings from this particular establishment, poor COPMICLOOOKS (E@)