Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

518 was revealed to him, clear-cut and distinct in the white flood of sunlight, was the same as that which had, for three bitter days, persisted in his memory like the after-vis- ions of an ugly dream. The man was Ellis Turner! CHAPTER II. BERT EARNS A NAME. T that first moment of~recognition, Bert was of a mind to bolt for the door, to rush down-stairs, to confront the man who -had swindled him, to—but there his mental plan of action came to an abrupt termination. His inclination was to bring about a physical encounter wherein he would satisfy the cravings of his smol- dering rage; but his better sense told him that, though this might be temporarily re- lieving to his wrathful humor, it could not be permanently satisfactory as an admin- istration of justice. He paused at the door, whither his first impulse had carried him, and pondered this, hand on knob. Then he turned and walked back to the window. _Turner was speaking. His soft, persua- sive voice came clearly to Bert, who stood behind the yellow lace curtains, where he could see and yet not be seen. “You know quite well, my friends,” Tur- ner was saying, ‘“‘ that I would not recom- mend to you any man or men in whom I had not full confidence. You know that I would not advocate their election, if I did not think that they would serve wisely and well this community I love so dearly. You have always had confidence in me, my friends, and I am proud to say that I have never yet betrayed the ROnHGeHce of any man.” Bert smiled grimly at.this, He wondered absently what Turner would do if he, Bert, should suddenly appear at the window and reveal to Turner a living refutation of that last remark! He wondered what this trust- ing audience. would do if he should volun- teer to tell them one story about Turner that they didn’t know! He wondered if such a.story, coming from such an unex- pected source, would not help to defeat the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. political aspirants for whose election Tur- ner was now extolling his own virtues, and thereby defeat Turner himself, who, of course, must have some selfish motive in ad- vocating éhem! These thoughts, indulged in as he lis- tened to the hated Turner, soon changed from idle musings to eager plannings. He resolved that his debt of unfriendliness should be paid in coin more lasting than a physical thrashing; that he would bear Tur- ner’s poisoned chalice to Turner’s own lips; that he would plunge Turner’s dagger into Turner’s own breast. . As long as he remained in Selma he would oppose every measure that Turner advo- cated; he would fight him tooth and nail to prevent the fulfilment of Turner’s every’ desire. Turner had brought him in disgrace to Selma, and Turner must be the one to suffer most for it! There was a long porch in front of the Palace Hotel, and the roof of .it sloped down several feet below Bert’s window. At a moment when Turner’s rhetoric was hold- ing the people’s attention most fixedly, Bert climbed noiselessly through the window to this roof, sliding down gently to the very edge, where he hovered a moment above the rapt listeners, hidden from them partially by the roof itself and partially by their un- Seeing interest in the speaker before them. “My friends,” Turner was urging; “when you go to the polls to-morrow, cast your votes for honesty, sincerity, and capa- bility. Those are the three qualifications upon which I have built my own reputation among you, and those are the ones you and IT must demand of our public servants. I—” “‘ Just a minute, Turner!” thundered Bert, with such startling suddenness that a gasp rose off the assembly below him, and every face was upturned to him in wonder- ment. If one of Aladdin’s genii had ap- peared from a lamp before them, their as- tonishment could not have been more com- plete. Turner, too, stared up at him in open-mouthed amazement, his words dying on his lips. ‘* Boom!”’ he gasped. Bert flashed his strong white teeth in a cheerful smile. “‘ Didn’t expect to see me so soon, did a ginal fro eo) 7 OOO) 7 CO THE OHIO STATE lL »