Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

> 196 “This one’s good enough,” he mumbled. “Tit find you some string.- Sit down. You’re in the way. I want to put these dishes away.” Breathing hard, he settled back in his old cracked armchair by the fire. ‘“‘ Here’s your string,” and Sarah tossed it to him. He adjusted his nickel rimmed specta- cles, picked up the twine, and patiently . wrapped it about the mouthpiece. ‘Assem- bling the pipe, he heaved a long breath, as though a great problem had been solved. He filled the pipe, opened the stove door, stuck in a bit of paper, and withdrew it flaming. He lit the pipe, and leaned back ~ smoking, like a whiskered, spectacled baby sucking on a burning pacifier. realized Sarah had left. | Ed was coming again to-night, and there would be a party. Queer things young peo- ple did these days. . Rattled tin cans and cow bells, and pounded a big drum, and called it music. How did they ever dance to itP The solution was too-much for his imagination. He thought of his wife, Liz- zie, who had gone, and sighed in relief. Perhaps Sarah ‘would marry Ed. She was thirty-four. It was high time. - Then he could rest. The years he had Jabored would bring their reward. He would go into a home. Charley Foss and he could smoke and talk all day long.. No more work at the shop. To think, he used to be the best machinist Mower had. Forty- eight years at Mower’s. He and Mower had been schoolmates. .Now Mower was a millionaire, and he was a sweeper. Mower rode in a limousine, and he walked to save car fare—saved to provide a fund for en- _ tering an old man’s home. Well, we couldn’t all be actors. Some of us must watch the show.. The doorbell rang.’ Sarah rushed down- stairs. , : “Hello, Ed!” he heard; then lower tones. ; : They had entered the parlor. The re- flected ‘light through the door increased in brilliancy. Sarah was burning more gas. Again the doorbell rang. “ Hello, bunch!” he heard; then stamp- ing of feet and the tonking of a tin bell. was chilly. ‘room became colder and colder. Then he ‘voice. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY “WEEKLY, ‘“ Boom! Boom! drum. - “ Make all the noise you want, bunch— nobody’s home,” announced Sarah. | A saxophone whined. Dad continued smoking. _ A charivarical din stabbed the stillness. “Bang! Twunk! Zing! Zing!” ’ The orchestra had started. On with the dance! Dad shook his head drearily. He His pipe burned no longer. The The fire was going out. With watery eyes he watched the dying embers. The jazz band howled on. Then, his head bent forward, and, overcome with weariness, he fell asleep. He awoke shivering. The din had ceased. Boom!” thundered a° The parlor lights were extinguished. The. stove: was cold. His pipe clattered to the floor. “ Sarah!” he called hoarsely. ’ Mocking echoes-answered. “ Sarah!” he repeated. "“ What?” came Sarah’s low voice from the parlor. “T thought you had left,” explained une old man. * Well, Dad _ heard them go to the vestibule. Whatever took them so long? A chill wind swept from the opened door. Sarah re- turned, rushing. “ Dad, look! Ain’t this swell?” The old man trembled vith excitement. Ed and me are engaged! -Ed—Sarah engaged? She had a ring! His eyes narrowed to slits as he examined the glittering gem. I must run along,” said Ed’ 3. “Tt ain’t very big, but Ed didn’t have any more money,” explained Sarah. “ He got it at the hock shop for five bucks. Ain’t it a peach?” °. Dad looked up suddenly. “You going to be married, Sarah?” “Sure!” May first. enough money to last-us for the first year on the farm.” | “Farm?” asked the old man. “Ed has a farm all paid for, dad. He bought it on installments. All he wants to do now is get enough money to tide us over until the farm pays. Oh, dad, I’ll Ed ‘wants to save COMmicloe Cc S CO@