The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

150 In a minute more he'd have the satisfaction of knowing what was the matter with him, if nothing else— Suddenly he stiffened. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. He stood where he was, rooted to the floor, and then he heaved a sigh of great, big, broad relief. At last! He had the explanation for everything. Turning, he ran back to the man- ager’s office. Bursting open the door, he stood on the threshold, struggling for breath. “Mr. Wrenn, will you come out to the front door, please, for just a min- ute?” he gasped. Followed by the manager, he re- turned quickly to the spot near the street entrance where he had stood the moment before. ““ Now, sir,” he said, ‘“‘ watch, listen, and keep quiet, and you'll understand better than I can tell you why I haven’t been able to make a sale all this week! ” Just then a customer entered the vestibule from the street. Barlow nudged his boss excitedly. “ Now—keep your ears open!” he directed. . | | As the man stepped up to the inner door of the vestibule ‘ Buttons” opened the portal and bobbed out to meet him. “Excuse me, boss!” he said in a hoarse whisper. “I’m tellin’ every- body not t’ have nuttin’ to say or do wit’ de blond salesman. Don’t let him wait on youse.” The man looked down at the boy in surprise. “What's . the bub?” he asked. “Oh, we t’ink he’s a crook!” the lad rattled off his answer. ‘“‘ A man was waited on by that yaller-haired sales- man, see, an’, after de cust’mer left, he telephoned back here to say dat he’d been robbed. “When he paid fer what he bought here at de store, he fergot his pocket- book. Left it layin’ on one o’ the chairs. He accuses dis here salesman matter with him, ‘clutch, but the THE ARGOSY. of havin’ copped de poise when he found it an’ not sayin’ nuttin’ about it. “De manager ast which salesman? An’ de feller on de teleyphone says he can’t tell till he comes back to de store an’ looks all de cloiks over. He tinks it was.a feller wid light hair. *“*Come down to de_ store an’ ident’fy the salesman,’ says the boss, ‘an’ we'll have him arrested.’ But de man’says he’s goin’ out o’ town, but he’ll be back in a week, an’ if we’ll keep the salesman here, not lettin’ him sus- pect that anybody’s onto him, he'll drop around an’ pick him out. “So the feller’s still inside, boss. An’ because we don’t want nobody else to git stung by him, I’m told to warn everybody against him before they goes inside! ” The customer patted the pocket edition of Ananias on the head. “ Thank you, son!” he said. ‘ I’m glad you put me on. [I'll see that the blond salesman doesn’t come too near me!” . ¥ He started into the store. But the manager, with Barlow at his heels, brushed him aside as they darted out and collared the door-boy. * You little liar,; you!” roared the boss. ‘ Who put you up to that yarn you just told that gentleman? ”’ The lad turned pale. He tried to wriggle loose from the manager’s latter's hand was wrapped tightly around the collar of his uniform. “Speak, you gutter-rat!’’ snapped the head of the store. “‘ What made you tell -that howling lie about Mr. Barlow, so that nobody would go near hime Answer me!” The boy began to cry. And, as the first wail hit the air, Graves, leaving his duties as salesman inside, came dashing out. “You léave my kid brother alone! ”’ he snarled at the manager. “Did you put him up to tell that string of lies?’ demanded his boss. “Was it you who made him place a boycott on Barlow, here? ”’ CoOMmicbook CO