Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

es 80 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘Tf you want to step out once a week with a girl,” he continued, “ you might pick some one in your own class anyway.” Rod sighed—he had engaged in the same argument with Tommy before. “T’ve often told you,” he said patiently, “that I don’t go out with women because they are women. I go out with them be- cause they are human beings, and because they lead me into the heart of life. If I picked them as you would they would be pretty much all the same. Every week I would get the same story with, perhaps, a few slight variations. It’s the adventure of dipping into thousands of letters at ran- dom, and picking one out by chance, that appeals to me. It’s a privilege not given to many men, and it’s one that I appreciate and cherish. » He was silent for a moment, while Tom- my replenished his cup again. “Vou know, Tommy,” he continued, “sometimes when I look at the letters I get they seem to turn into faces—yearn- ing, eager, dreaming faces. Some of them are beautiful, some of them seem ugly, but all of them seemed to be filled with seek- ing and desire. It is not me they want, I know that, because they seem to look right through and beyond me. It is an ideal they have created in their own minds they crave—an ideal that no man born could satisfy.” ‘““That’s easy to explain,” asserted Tom- my pompously. ‘“ A writer like me creates an heroic réle in which you appear. These dumb janes see you play the part and they think you’re just the kind of a guy they see in the story on the screen. That’s all there is to it.” “ Tt’s something like that, I guess,’ Rod conceded. “Tt’s just like that, I tell you,” Tommy insisted. ‘‘If these bimbos who write let- ters to you knew that you kept six apart- ments, more or less, and had the habit of giving your friends the go-by whenever you feel like it, they’d stop writing pronto.” “Well, I hope they don’t stop writing,” replied Rod, ‘“‘ because it would sort of take the zest out of life if I couldn’t fare forth into some unknown adventure once in et ee _ went to the Jat on— x een ee Sse 5 5 = Be “IT can’t see any sense to that,’ grum- bled Tommy; ‘“‘ but maybe that’s because I’m not romantic.” “You probably never will see any sense to it, Tommy,” Rod agreed, “ so what’s the use of trying. As for me, I never want to get through rubbing elbows with life, and this is one way in which I accomplish it. You seem to be satisfied to sit back and tipple and write hokum. Some day you’re going to run out of liquor and ideas at the same time, and then you will be a mess. But I’m going to keep on living and learn- ing through these adventures at random of mine.” “Talking about ideas,” remarked Tom- my, “‘ that is one of the reasons I made a dash for Washington Square to-night. You've got a pretty good head, Rod, and you can come through with a suggestion once in awhile, which is more than I-can say for Kenyon, that dumb director of yours. Say!” he exploded, “if you ask me, that guy couldn’t direct traffic at the old crossroads. It’s a good thing I’m work- ing against him or you would be ruined, plumb ruined.” Tommy took a sip of Tom and Jerry, and Rod, turning his head as if reaching for a match, smiled. Tommy’s indigna- tion always amused him. While at other times they were the best of friends, a fierce feud always broke out between Tommy and Kenyon when the preparation of a new story began. ‘“ Kenyon and I had dinner together to- night at the Lambs,” Tommy explained. “I’m whipping that next story of yours into shape, you know, and that guy, as usual, thinks he has to butt in and know all about it. Say, if he would pay more attention to his own work and let me do mine everybody would be better off.” “Well,” said Rod, placatingly, “ it’s just as well to listen to his suggestions. Anybody has a good idea now and then.” “ Listen!” ejaculated Tommy. “ Say, I listened to-night for two hours, and, be- lieve me, I didn’t hear a thing—nothing at all.” Then Tommy beamed. “ Any- way, I licked him on most of the points we all pee one.” a > = ero " _* — nn : > = = a <= oe == : ——— ae Ve ease ene eas = COMICDaGK Com Sac Se ea ~% SS i"