Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

136 for himself during business hours was. that which he used in further endeavors to. break: through the shell of Henry Faxon. : “Youre coming, my boy, you’re com- ing,” said the elder Fyske, removing his hands from under his coat tails and patting’ “Some day you- will be- my partner if you keep up this pace. [. told you that if you would:-stick to me. you: Forsythe’s back. would grow. up with ‘the firm.. And my firm is, growing, and I have great plans for the future, my’ boy. Work hard, like I have taught you, and you will be a success with. me. PF) Forsythe wanted to laugh. To him: there. was good comedy-in this pompous egotism, but it irritated him a trifle as he had to. ‘stifle a desire to strike through the bom- bast.. But on the whole he was- happy and content. “In a few years he would attain, or at least be very close to, his goal. tomer. It was Faxon. A hint of a grim smile came over Faxon’s' face as Forsythe apologized, but he gave no other sign that he recognized him as a sen- tient being. Clearwater was watching the proceeding, “Hell’s going to pop. to-day’ for sure,’ he said, a tenseness in his words. jump. I'd be rich by night. old frozen face looked that near human there. were six failures and two suicides, but he came out a half million to the good.” Hell did pop, the explosion: being’ almost coincident with the conclusion of Clear- water’s prediction. A sudden silence hushed the room, the blackboard boys: stopping their scribbling with the chalk still in air, the tickers stuttering to a stop. Then there was a wild clattering’ of telegraph: instru~ ments, as though the wires were bursting with that which they carried, and then the tickers resumed their staccato’ statements! Men crowded about the tape and the bul- letin board, all restraint gone. Some went white . suddenly; some. laughed. One big _. fellow pounded a smaller man on the back, | the little man standing pale and tense, in- sensible to the beating, mouthing the name a It was. a thought that he loved to: fondle in “his | mind. He walked across the floor andi in his. abstraction almost collided with a cus- ms Wish T knew which way the cat was going to: The last time. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY; of God: over and. over. the. clock he was growing: richer. . In the frenzy of, work. that. was. thrust upon him in the mad: rush: to save or’ gain, Forsythe stole: a second that he might glance:.at Faxon. He was sitting in his chair, skinny hands clasped: over sharp knees, his body immobile, his parchment- ‘like skin drawn. tightly over his cheek bones, his mouth a straight line, and. his fishlike’ eyes as dead as ever. Apparently: his. han- diwork brought him: no! reactions: - Thus. he sat until the market closed. Then he arose: and stalked out of the room just. as he had done day after day, week after week. But.this time he'left almost an hour. earlier: than. usual. This was: only a minor popping. of the: infernal regions, and as. nearly as'could be: estimated. he. was only:- a. quarter’ of. a million dollars the richer. _A. quarter of a million dollars!. The summit of John Forsythe’s. ambition. May-. With every tick of be even more than that, Forsythe’s infor- . mation. as to the total having traveled a_ roundabout path, And: this.old man with the death’s-head: had. the key to. the. treas- ure: chest! Faxon. was in his place the next day, his exterior the: same,, his-crustiness just as manifest. Forsythe looked. at him. with cu- rious eyes—stared: at him, in fact—but Faxon's. eyes did: not. stray: from the. black~ board,. though Forsythe, with: all- the force of will at. command, sought to. make. him glance. his: way: “Tf he’d only confide in: me just. once Pd” sighed. Clearwater.. -“ Will yow be able to: pay: me- to- day?” interrupted: Forsythe:. “‘ Your note is past due and unless you settle. Pll have. to gar- nishee you.” Clearwater. paled.. He had come out of the inclosuré and was standing ‘near the chairs. It was after closing.time-and.all the customers: had: gone. except. Faxon,- who was _ studying the blackboard. He: often. waited . until he was alone to: do, this; seemingly mapping out. his:campaign: from the-mass of hieroglyphics. _Both:.Forsythe and Clear- water forgot. him. pleaded’ the. bookkeeper. -“ I’ve got a sick kid at the house, and my wife is almost CO (Lf “ For the love of God, don’t do that!” i Giook _ | — 3 Fs SS 3 An aut <S) in) CO