Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

AN 800 TO 1 SHOT. factory repast the diner won back a cer- tain amount of his wonted pep. It had been a tough morning. Still, he was shooting for high stakes and he’d be a fool to abandon the chase without further exertion. For which decision, Mr. Tack was devoutly thankful less than an hour later. Three more Shapiros had been crossed off the list before Sam came to the gloomy alley that ended his quest or, at least, bade fair to do so. Because the first object that met his eyes, as he approached the crazily sagging shop called for by his memorandum, was the familiar express wagon with its cock-eyed inscription! Sam ran his finger around between collar and neck, moved forward slowly to avoid any appearance of haste and to offset the heavy breathing caused by his recent activ- ities. He assumed a bored and cynical ex- pression as he entered the door and ad- dressed himself to the little rat of a man who sat trying to take the bend out of the spout of a more or less dilapidated coffee percolator. “You Shapiro?” Sam inquired. The other answered: “‘ Yazz. Whatchou want?” “You got any ol’ copper? Scrap iron, mebbe?”’ “ Nein.” Shapiro flipped the palms of his hands outward. “ Ain’dt got it a pound. I clean oudt dis mornin’. Two ton, vel- leicht.” Mr. Tack groaned inwardly, but man- aged an impassive expression. “I gotta pick up a lot,” he said. “‘ Who you sell to?” With beating heart he awaited the reply. Perhaps this fellow would tell him, perhaps not. But the other answered, “ Feldman. He take all my stuff. He’s a jobber by T’ir- teent’ Street an’ Eas’ River.” “Tank you. I might get what I want offa him.’”’ Sam nodded a farewell and es- caped as swiftly as decorum permitted. Ol zinc? V. Now he trail was hot. Visions of sixteen hundred dollars, cash meney, floated be- | he hailed, 117 a taxicab, but even at that, excitement caused his breath to come and go with un- wonted rapidity as his conveyance drew up before the office of Heyman Feldman, job- ber in scrap metals of all kinds. Cash paid for lots of any size. Sam paid off the taxi driver, and re- gretted instantly that he had done so. If, perchance, he managed to acquire the stove he sought, he would take no chances by letting it out of his sight. However, he stepped inside with i ‘s mind made up as to the exact course he meant to pursue with Feldman. A cierk lounged at a tall desk. To him Sam said briskly, “I’m in the market for coupla ton scrap iron—mebbe t’ree.” The clerk yawned. ‘“ Come in to-mor- row,” he said. “ We ain’t got a pound now.” “Am’t got a pound!” Sam repeated, as if the statement were utterly astounding. “ Why—-why—1t jus’ come from a feller named Shapiro, an’ he says he sold you some to-day! Said I could get some here.” “Sure,” the other returned languidly. ‘“ Sure. We had plenty a coupla hours ago. But it’s been shipped. All gone by the barge to Joisey.” ‘Who d’ sell to in Joisey?” Sam in- quired, striving to keep down his agitation. “Curious as hell, ain’t ya?” the clerk told him. ‘“ What business is it of yours where we sell our goods?” ‘““ Honest, mister,” Sam began, aware that he had been too eager. “I didn’t mean nothin’. But I gotta hook on to some scrap, an’ I thought mebbe the feller you sold to could help me out. That’s my reason for asking, mister.” The man relented. “ Fat chance you get- tin’ any stuff there. We sell to the North Atlantic Metals Company, Joisey City. They ain’t in the sellin’ game. They melt the stuff up.” Sam almost cried in his alarm. Sixteen hundred dollars being fed inte the furnaces! But he said, “‘ Thanks, mister. I'll have to go somewheres else. “I’m in a big hurry.” Dashing into the street, he looked wildly about for a taxi. He did not know what he would do in Jer- ee: Sette Samm St Ai Conti's se I me | a a <= = a — % = = Fa * ys —_ ee *. = Se = i ™ ee > es ES ss eos 2 aS — > Aaa eo == 5 ee =— Te a ae oe aes ~ =x ° o “ wll Sn > 2 a a Aa - ~ - : * es - . P a ee To A, = ~— ail “We - __—_ te — a S OMmicBOORT. com