Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

‘up a stream of answers, some of them ac- curate, all of them crisp: and when he was fairly pinned he managed to wriggle out under cover of a joke of some sort. By this time the earnest gentleman on the op- ition box had no audience at all, for they all had crowded to Durkin, and when he saw them at the height of their numbers and good nature, he put out his hand and “Ts there anybody here who would like to contribute to the cause?” “What cause?” asked a voice m the silence that followed. “Oh, any cause,” said Durkin without moving a muscle of his face. “I am tak- ing contributions for the cause—that i is, my “the The constable, as the meeting approached a stage where he would be justified in sus- pecting the speaker of being a plain beg- gar, had crowded forward until he stood almost at Durkin’s feet. “This gentleman here.” said Durkin, pointing to Springtime, “will pass among you with his hat off, and while it is against law of this city for me to take a col- | Salle eestiaragelg money be floating in the air in his Retreats sae tit tat money ve ) sighed. Steak, eggs, ‘coffee, hot cakes, pie,” he said. “ You eat, boy.” ress had gone to the kitchen, “ how do you do it? I thought I had a nerve, but you— “ Tt wasn’t so bad, was it?” said Durkin. out primed. The hicks asked just about what I thought they would, although they almost had me stopped a couple of times. You know, ever since Roller left me, I've been more or less put to it.” “ Ah,” said Springtime, “I thought he wouldn’t stand for that walloping.” “ Springtime,” said Durkin, “ have you no faith in human nature? Have you no ideals? It wasn’t the walloping that did it—it was my example in quitting. Ive never done anything that Roller didn’t try to do; but he always sticks to it and puts it across. My going home started him to think about it, and I’m darned if one morn- ing he didn’t up and leave me, saying he was going back to his home town, which I believe he called Snakewood. He went, and I haven't seen or heard of him since, and I don’t imagine that I shall see or hear of him. He'll stick. I’ve had to think» things to eat. What kind of a re Bevercaoks. com