Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

636 tary. oi—” . ‘““ About a job, isn’t 1t?” “ He says it’s personal, but—yes, I guess he wants a job.” ‘““ Personnel department, then. What’s the sense of my spending thousands on a per- sonnel department if it can’t sift out ap- plicants for a job?” “But he wants to talk to you, Mr. Marcy! He refused to see the personnel—”’ “Tisten,” said Marcy. ‘See this tom- fool coat and circus hat? See those spats? See the gardenia in my buttonhole? Do I look like a bridegroom, or don’t 1?” “Vou look wonderful,” said his tactful secretary. “Veah? Well, I wouldn’t dress up like a trick horse except I’ve got to go serve on the mayor’s committee. And the only reason I’m doing that is I want a good seat where I can see this new ace, Carver, right close up. And that committee is going to sive me enough to do for one day without interviewing any Mr. Harper from Hiram Center or whatever he calls it, and you can tell him so. “ And, furthermore, to-day’s Friday and I’m out of town for the week-end. - And Monday I sail for Europe for two months, as you very well know. And anyhow, we don't need any more help in this organiza- tion until fall—not his kind of help. Sup- pose you tell your friend all that, Miss Blythe, and maybe he'll see a great light and go away. As for me, I’m going right -now. I’m late as it is.” ‘“He’s so persistent and so—so sort Vi AriciA was waiting for Brad when he came out of the offices of the Jerome Marcy Company. “J hurried right over here,” she ex- plained, a strange light in her eyes. “ Brad, I got a job.” “You did!” “Ves, and I’ve got to decide about it by one o'clock to-day. Brad, it’s a job out of town. I—it means we would be separated for all of two months—and I’ve got to go to-day. It’s secretarial work for a woman lecturer. Oh, Brad, what shall we do?” | - a ~ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, Brad was about to say, peremptorily, ‘“ Refuse it.” Then he glanced at Alicia more thoughtfully. Was it right, was it fair to subject his wife to this? Alicia had married him ex- pecting protection and a husband. So far she had had very little of either. She looked tired, worried. Alicia had.a right to her own life, and if he could offer her neither a home nor pro- tection what right had he to dictate her actions. Brad was about to admit as much to his wife, but his thoughts changed again. He loved Alicia; he needed her so! He looked hurriedly at a street clock. Its hands indicated the near approach of eleven. “One o’clock you say, Alicia?” “One sharp. What shall I say, Brad?” ‘“ Meet me in the park at twelve thirty,” said Brad. ‘‘ Good-by, dear.” ‘‘ Where are you going?” ‘“T’m going to interview Jerome Marcy,” Brad said through clenched teeth. ‘ He’s in a grand stand with a lot of other high silk hats and stuffed shirts. | Maybe he thinks he’s got rid of me. Well, he hasn’t. Twelve-thirty, Alicia.” Brad was gone. Alicia watched him hurry off. Her hands clasped anxiously. “If he just hadn’t lost that wonderful letter!” she mourned. “ Find him, Brad! Make him listen to you—oh, I hope you can!” VI. Asout the ‘official grand stand from which the mayor’s committee of welcome would review the parade and pay their respects to Lincoln Carver, the aviator hero of the day, a dense crowd had assembled. The packed throng pressed close to the line established by a cordon of soldiery, good-natured but firm policemen. None but a desperate man could have fought his way through to the bluecoats, but Brad was desperate now. ““T’ve got to see Jerome Marcy—and he’s in that grand stand,” he explained to a policeman. A shrewd eye surveyed Brad Harper in’ his unassuming gray summer suit and straw EOPMICL OOO KS (E)