Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

; a 6 em was ae ee reason for Trus- © m’s story about the cow. The pockets of his shabby, creased clothes were empty of the thing he craved but disliked to work for. He had no money. Therefore this was an excellent opportunity to go up to Lorimer’s house, start a wordy complaint, and make himself a pest and nuisance until he got—damages. Grumbling and muttering to himself, Truscom left the village. It was a night to lure even the callous-hearted to gentler mood, but not so with Truscom. It is doubtful if he ever deigned to give a pass- ing glance at the star-patterned sky. Cer- tain that to him the mystery of the night was expressed in the phrase, “ Plaguey dark.” ‘There are blind people with more vision than some who have eyes to see with. - Arrived at Lorimer’s house, Truscom went in without knocking. By way of announc- ing his entry and asserting his status as a brother and equal, he clumped heavily as he went along the hall to the room where ~ the light was. “I’ve come to collect for the damage ‘your cow done,” he began; and when Lori- ‘mer did not look up from his chair he re- peated his plaint in louder, angrier tone. “Sleepin’,” muttered Truscom in dis- gust, when he found he was not favored with the slightest sign. It riled him that ‘the old man should not instantly awake to the call of his harsh voice. He thumped across the room. It was his intention to ‘shake Lorimer rudely, but—he did not. When the spirit leaves the body of those _ who have lived the good life, the inanimate clay takes on an aloof majesty that even a vandal may hesitate to intrude upon. Be- sides—Fred Truscom was badly scared when he caught sight of the unmistakable ‘ | Selegaaagy -bent face. He —‘retre backed against the piano; he stoo¢ there end moistening his lips and wo ich re bc aes do. Should tthe | news ne enjoy Lo # weal ae Le a. Sa " at = & es Es . Andrew Lorimer? Undoubte be, but— ; While he was grasping at these ties of profit Truscom’s eyes shifted about the room. He felt a vague sense of Ne ae hh resentment that he could see eg of value that he could—acquire. temptuous glance took in the heavy furni- ture, the few pictures, the bronze clock and ornaments on the mantelpiece over the open — fireplace, but to the ignorant eye only the — tawdry and glittering has any appeal. “ Junk,” he muttered, and framed the thought, “ Wonder if he’s got any money hid away?” 2 Before he made any move to find a di- rect answer to this question Truscom backed out of the room and out of the house. He went as far as the lane and circled around in order to assure himself that there was no one about. It was a needless precaution—a refinement of craft brought about by the evilness of his in- tentions—but his prowling satisfied his sense of cunning. He went back to the room and lowered the lamp; then he start- ed his search. He rummaged in drawers, looked in closets, went into the old man’s bedroom and felt under the mattress, and he found nothing but disappointment. “Nothing but an old pauper,” he thought, and, returning to the front room, crept nearer to the old man. He saw lying under the lax hand the folded song. He read the title. Then, bending closer, he slipped his dirty, ghoulish hand into a pock- et. He found a stub of pencil and some scraps of paper covered with writing. Next —some letters. These he replaced. Then he found a worn leather wallet. He could feel there were coins in it. A quick glance — showed him that there were also some bills. After that Truscom flitted. He went home by a circuitous route. In the shuttered — secrecy of his sordid room he age eet prize of his petty, mean thievery. He robbed Andrew eb of pee se rs ae ve “< Py vis! oe eet Te REPAY * duper ienSaks. com