Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

THE a IDEA. told you the idea the evening of the same day Jimmy first came in here.” Merkle nodded. “And when Hope comes to you after lunch now, don’t you put’ him wise. You keep mum. Act just as if nothing had hap- pened. Tell him you’re ready to tell the chief all you know.” Jimmy chuckled at the double meaning of this. “ Just let him go ahead with his plans in his own way. He'll get his, all right, or I don’t know a ' thing about the chief’s methods.” The chemist nodded again emphatically. “ He tried to pull that crooked busimess on me—that you couldn’t do to Merkle and ‘get away with it.” ‘‘ And listen, Merkle ’—the office mana- ger laid his hand earnestly on the little chemist’s arm—“ there’s going to be a lot of money in this if it goes through—plenty for everybody. WH see you get what you earn—and that ‘Il be a good slice. You know me, and you know the chief. You don’t want that in writing, do you?” he finished with a grin as. he remembered Merkle’s account of his very last- business transaction with the secretary. Mr. Merkle offered his hand. ‘“ What you say it’s like a government bond with me, Mr. Cooper,” he declared emphati- cally. Mr. Leffingwell Hope had his interview _with’ the president, just as he had planned. He went in alone, directing Merkle to wait outside until he sent for him. Mr. Wentworth listened with his cus- tomary attention to what his secretary had to say. His eyes narrowed, and his lower jaw came out a litthe when Mr. Hope stated specifically that the idea was his own; but he did not imterrupt. Mr. Hope was very brief. He merely set the salient features of the scheme before his principal; then he called in Mr. Merkle. The chemist entered and seated himself silently; his face wore an expression of grim determination. | “Explain my idea to Mr. Wentworth, Merkle,” said the secretary grandly, lean- ing back in his chair. The chemist swallowed hard. This was an outcome he had not expected at all’ He 51 looked at Mr. Wentworth, wondering whether he should go all over what he had already said just that morning, or whether he should make a clean breast of the whole matter. Before he could reach a conclusion the president took the decision entirely out of his hands. “Mr. Merkle, how long have you been working on this?” Mr. Wentworth had not changed his easy position at his desk; but his voice now was very alert—low-toned, almost soft, but tense and vibrant. It was the real Mr. Wentworth talking now: the man of action; the forceful, dominant per- sonality that had placed him where he was in the business world. Mr. Leffingwell Hope noticed the change at once, and opened his eyes wide with surprise. ‘ Be exact, Mr. Merkle; I mean exactly what date, if you can tell, did Mr. Hepe first consult you about this?” The chemist pulled out his little note- book. ‘“ I’m a methodical man, Mr. Went- worth; the exact day it was April 17 last, in the evening.” ‘Thank you.” The president jotted down the date, and reached for his tele- phone. ‘‘ Mr. Cooper, please. Oh, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Wentworth speaking. What was the date upon which Mr. James Rand was first employed by us? Yes; April 18? Thank you. Was that the day after his first interview with me, according to your remembrance? ‘Thank you.” The president jotted that down also, hung up the receiver, and turned briskly to his secretary. “Mr. Hope, when you repeated to me that conversation you had on April 17 with Mr. Rand, did you repeat it correctly?” “Why I—why, yes, sir, as near as I. could remember it,” stammered Mr. Hope. “Thank you.” The president rang his buzzer. ‘‘ Ask Mr. Rand to step in here immediately.” The girl was back with Jimmy in less than a minute. The president did not ask - him to sit down, so he stood just inside the door, looking from one to the other of the three men, and wondering what was about to happen. “Mr. Rand, Mr. Cooper inferms me COnmiclboooks C C@