Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERFECT SCHEME. Dost pondered a moment, staring at the : ash on the end of his cigar then said: “That was all you had in mind, hey?” “ All!” Harvey exclaimed. “I’ve had a hell of a lot of things in mind. That son of a gun will get this jack and go right off and marry the jane who’s got me running in circles and talking to myself! And that’s only a part of it. He won’t have any fun with the money. He—” “ T begin to see why you hate to pass on the joyful tidings. Why don’t you wait until he collects, then sandbag him gently?” * Veah!” Harvey snorted, contemptuous- ly. “Sandbag my eye! That Merle will have everything he collects all sewed up in four-per-cent bonds—registered and all that, He’ll take ’em to bed with him nights!” Dost drummed on the table with his fin- ger tips; his eyes narrowed for a moment. Then he said: “ I'll dope out a scheme to eet that business, Harvey. You let it lay over another day. It won’t make any dif- ference. Then you come around to my place when you get through to-morrow night. I want to think about this a little.” He bestowed what he meant to be a pleas- ant smile on Sykes, and rose from the table. “So long,” he said, offering his hand. ‘ What’s on your mind, anyhow?” Har- vey asked, a little excitedly. “Same as what’s on yours. You come around to-morrow,” Dost rejoined and walked briskly away. IV. Ar about the same moment when Dost and. Harvey Sykes parted in the restaurant, ~ Merle Wentworth, having finished a leisure- ly dinner at his favorite eating place, boarded a One Hundred and Eighty-First Street crosstown surface car which present- ly deposited him near the corner of Tre- mont Avenue and Welling Place, Bronx. At a drug store, he purchased a pound box of chocolates and a few minutes later, present- ed himself at a modest apartment in Well- ing Place. Clare herself, opened the door and her eyes lighted with pleasure when she saw her ‘visitor. “T’m so glad you came, Merle,” she told 837 him, “T felt sort of pokey this evening. Oh, thank you so much.” She took the proffered box of sweets and ushered Merle into the living room where Mrs. Hollis sat reading the paper. The elder woman greeted the caller pleasantly, but tarried only a few minutes, leaving the young people together. To Merle, Clare seemed more charming, more desirable than ever to-night. But, he remembered, that was the way he always felt whenever he saw her. It was hard, very hard to restrain him- self from taking her in his arms and pour- ing forth all the things he had wanted to say for months. But that damned thirty-seven fifty a week intruded, as ever. Fancy ask- ing this marvelous creature to take a chance on that! Merle said: “ How about going to the movies? Looks like a good bill at the Bray- more.” “T’d love to go, Merle,” she said. “Tl be ready in a jiffy.” “Perhaps your mother would like to come along,” he suggested. “That’s sweet of you, Merle. I'll ask her.” She slipped into Mrs. Hollis’s room and returned in a moment to say that her mother would join them. The three were in great spirits. The eve- ning was brisk but clear; the program ex- cellent. As they set their faces homeward, Clare proposed: “ Let’s stop in the deli- catessen and get a piece of cheese. I'll make a rabbit.” “Fine!” agreed Merle. “ There’s a good place across the street.” They started to cross Tremont Avenue, They had almost gained the far side, with Mrs. Hollis a little in advance, when a big motor car, traveling at a speed far in ex- cess of the legal limit, swung in from a cross street, skidded, and, before either Clare or Merle could reach Mrs, Hollis to drag her to safety, the old lady was caught, swept against the curb, and hurled violently to the sidewalk. Clare screamed and rushed to her par- ent’s side, while Merle fought valiantly to fend off the crowd that instantly pressed in from all directions. A policeman dashed to his aid, and in a moment a space was Gomichooks (E(0)