Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

CROOKS WELCOME. case he contested, he was to lose even this. After cheerfully imparting this news to Ruth, Monty asked her impulsively when she was going to marry him. They were seated in her pretty little apartment, dis- cussing this and that. Ruth had just con- cluded a successful season, with bigger prospects for the fall opening. It was no secret that she liked Monty, and was deep- ly grateful for his efforts in obtaining her a metropolitan hearing. But, marry? “ Never, while you remain a trifler,” she told him. “‘ You are aimless, drifting. You have such possibilities, Monty, and you're just frittering them away. You could go so far, yet you haven’t ambition enough to make your own way. You won’t fight— you just turn off everything as a joke. You bear a well known name; your father did things. He started with nothing and built up a fortune—” ‘T’m not interested in retiring money from circulation,” objected Monty, good- naturedly. “I could have returned some of that jack to normalcy.” ‘No matter what he did to you, your father did a lot of good with his money,” persisted Ruth. ‘“ He gave employment to hundreds of men. And he gave liberally to good causes. He was well known. You are a blank as far as making an honored name goes. Do something that will make a name for yourself. You never had your name in the papers in connection with one useful or helpful project. You never benefited your fellow man—present company except- ed—one cent’s worth—” “Stop the presses!” commanded Monty, rising a bit haughtily. “‘ Before the week’s out my name and picture will be in all papers as a wholesale benefactor. I'll do exactly what you suggest, on a large scale. I'll benefit ten thousand fellow men just one cent’s worth per each.”’ I. RutH had to laugh in spite of herself at the literal way in which Monty had taken up her challenge so promptly. She, too, rose, and extended a hand in speeding him on to his large and ludicrous task. S35 A pretty picture she made as she ds- missed him. Her modish attire was a sharp contrast to the home-made frock she had worn when Monty had discovered her play- ing in the tent show, but the girl had re- mained. the same. Slender and graceful, wiry and vivid with abundant health and vivacity. Same of the tan acquired while living in the open still adhered. Her hair was dark brown and bobbed, her eyes were hazel, and her nose had an alert tilt. From her piquant chin swept a sweet line of throat. She was as tal] as Monty, and her hand- clasp matched his in strength. While not frail, he never had specialized in muscular development. He was-the New Yorker born, trim and not bulky, healthy enough for ordinary purposes, but no bigot about physical exercise. His green eyes had a merry, mocking light in them, and his knowing mouth usually was spread in a cheerful grin. It would be a pleasure ta describe him as broad-shouldered and masterful, but truth dictates that Monty be set down as average In size and appearance. His fists were neg- ligible.as weapons, but he packed a devas- tating vocabulary and a hair-tngger wit. When it came to assurance, he could brush aside a head waiter and appropriate a table marked “‘ Reserved” without act- . Ing self-conscious. He had sassed back traf- fic cops and got away with it. Hard-boiled city editors utterly wasted their imperson- ations of ennui when Monty was talking pictures into their papers. Having made his boast to Ruth, he went about his preparations with characteristic promptness. He telephoned to Peck, the lawyer for Temple, who was the executor, and demanded that he be paid his ten thousand dollars on the following day. In consideration he would sign a waiver to all claims to the estate. If refused, he would contest the will. Darius Peck tried to fence, but Monty was peremptory. As Temple was in his lawyer’s office at the moment, Peck advised him that Monty’s proposal would’ clear away all possibility of a contest, ~ Mr. Craig had been a widower, and be had bequeathed all but Monty’s tea thew GOMmMmiiGooo () SS Co