Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

PICK YOUR OWN their majesty, secretly regretted not having witnessed the whole show. Bitt was helped to his feet, cursing and mopping his bleeding face with a handker- chief. ‘ He attacked me, assaulted me,” he told the policemen, in a thick voice. ‘ I’ll make a complaint.” ‘You'll have to come along,”’ the officer told Billy. And through a lane which other police forced the party went, to the station house around the corner. By this time Billy was subdued. Led before the long desk, subjeeted to a fire of questions, he knew at last the possibilities lurking in that temper of his. As in a dream, he heard the officers tell their stories, heard the desk sergeant ask Bitt if he would sign the complaint! Then he found himself in a cell awaiting the ar- rival of a patrol wagon to take him to court for arraignment! It was a horrible night- mare! The bail, he understood, had been fixed at one thousand dollars. It might as well be a million. And if he should get off with a fine, he would not have the money to pay it! Jail! | That was what he faced. Ah, here they came now, to take him before the magistrate! “Come along,” the guard told him and led him back into the room where the long desk was. To Billy’s surprise, the captain was grinning down at him. And to his utter astonishment, that official said: ‘“‘ You’ve been bailed out!” : “ Bailed out!’’ Billy exclaimed. did it?” “This gentleman,” the captain replied, and handed over a card. “ He wants you to wash your face and go to his office at once.”’ ‘“ Who MORAL. 629 The amazed Billy read: AMBROSE KELSEY President Ironclad Hardware Company New York City, U.S.A. Ambrose Kelsey! Head of the company! Whom Billy had scarcely spoken to a dozen times and who was guarded from the other employees by Bitt as a mother lion guards her young! What did it all mean? However, he made for a barber shop and, a half hour later, presented himself at the office. The boy in attendance grinned in recognition. 3 “Mr. Kelsey said you were to go right in.” Seated in the chair to which the pres- ident had waved him, Billy heard with in- credulous ears: ‘“T saw the whole show, Carter. And, believe me, if a man ever deserved to be busted a few, it was one T. J. Bitt! I had just fired him when he ran afoul of you and you gave him what I have wanted to for a long time! This office will be a sweeter place without him! ‘But this charge he has made against me—”” “Tut, tut! Ill see that he withdraws that. I’m in a position to talk turkey to that lad. Never mind the reasons. But— T am making the manager of the export department general manager, and if you think you’d like to try out the job he leaves, why—” “Try it out! Why, Mr. Kelsey, P'l— Til—” : “Yes. I know you will. And about the old temper, now. You'll hold it down a bit, what?” “ T’ve got my foot on it right now,” Billy told him. THE END v U U BLAZING THE TRAIL This is what Arcosy did. fiction magazine in the world. In October, 1896, it came out as the first all- It has had a host of imitators, but keeps in-the forefront of them alls giving the greatest value in live, wide awake stories to be found anywhere. - COPMIC OOO KS (E©)