The Argosy for May — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

A MILLIONAIRE’S The clerk picked up the telephone. ‘Belford Hospital,” he said quickly. “Dr. Belknap, of the psychopathic ward—in a hurry. Qh, I say, is that you, doctor? ‘This is the Grantley. We've got a fellow here who imagines he’s a California millionaire, but it’s my private belief he hasn’t a cent.” The voice at the other end answered calmly: “We can’t do anything unless he grows violent—you've got to be care- ful in such cases. trouble with him, us.’ ‘You keep watch of 520, Jimmy,” cautioned the clerk, returning to his desk. “If he goes off his head, run right down here.” The small bell-boy had been Slee ears during this conversation, and his face betokened intense interest. With an ap- preciative grin, he was off like a shot. The telephone girl stepped up to the desk. ‘No. 520’s just tried to have me get Senator Bradley, of California, at his Washington home,” she said excitedly, ‘“and they told me he was at the White House. No. 520 says to get him, any- how, even if I have to call the President in order to do it. Do you s’pose he’s another? ~’ she added in an undertone. The manager walked back to the booth with her. “Instead of the White House, he’ll get me on the wire,” he an- nounced decidedly. “Ves, sir,’ as an excited voice sound- ed from the upper regions, ‘‘I’ll get the White House right away—and when I do, Ill call you.” Meantime, Johnson’s restlessness had increased to fever heat. A_ half-hour elapsed, and he was not yet connected with Senator Bradley. He rang fran- tically for bell-boys—no response! “ Never mind that Washington call,” he said finally, taking up the. receiver. “111 try again in the morning.” Sunday morning, early, the occupant of Room 520 began to ring. Word had, however, gone forth among the bell- boys that he was crazy, and they feared to answer the call—especially since the dining-room had reported him as a ‘“ten-center,” and there was, consequent- ly, no glittering bait to stimulate their courage. But, overpowered by curi- however, call upon If you have any hasty retreat as they DILEMMA. 329 osity, they had crept up noiselessly from time to time to reconnoiter. It was on one of these occasions that Johnson flung the door open suddenly and found Jimmy crouched at the keyhole. The Californian had spent a sleepless night, and his temper was completely beyond control. Jimmy screamed lustily as Johnson grabbed him. | ad A HALF-HOUR later, two gentlemen who had just been telephoning were as- tonished to behold a frantic, wild-eyed, disheveled person dragged through the corridor, loudly protesting. His collar was torn, blood streamed from a cut in his forehead, and two. Belford attend- ants who had him in charge seemed to meet with no check from the manage- ment. “What's all this about?” asked one of the onlookers, turning to the tele- phone girl. : “Oh, just a lunatic who imagines he’s a millionaire from California. He’s been calling up the biggest men in New York—tried to get a big check cashed last night, but they were on to him right away ; so the minute he got violent, they phoned the insane ward at Belford. They’re taking him off now,” and the girl shrugged her shoulders indifferently. The gentleman addressed suddenly caught sight of the victim’s face. “ By all that’s holy, if that isn’t Sam Johnson!” he exclaimed. ‘ What’s left of him, Duncan,” son called out faintly. Mr. Duncan turned angrily to the manager. ‘What in the name of common sense do you mean?” he demanded. ‘ Why, this gentleman is known from one end of the West to the other. If he’s out of funds, he gn draw on me for any sum he wants.” — “And on me, too,’ panion. The doctors John- ’ echoed his com- from Belford beat a grasped the situa- tion. The manager and clerk stood aghast, too thoroughly overcome to at-\ tempt a defense. “Mr. Johnson,” said the former, finally pulling himself together, “the COMPICOO© S (C@)