Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

say, fishin’ into a back pocket and pullin’ out a handkerchief, at the same time causin’ a pair of handcuffs which had been layin’ in old Giles’s desk for years to fall to the floor. | I’m payin’ no attention to Elliot, but out of the corner of my eye I can see him reel on his feet as the handcuffs hit the carpet. He’s absolutely stupefied. If I had come into his flat blusterin’ and threat- enin’ he’d prob’ly have give me the laugh, just like he did to Ed Taylor and the other collectors who’d been pullin’ the rough stuff on him for twelve years, but the lodge- -room hokum got under his skin. You could see from his face he wouldn’t have been a bit surprised if Ed and me had fallen on him and dragged him off to jail. ‘All right, Mr. Taylor,” I sing out. ‘““ Write these down—one table, four chairs, one side board—”’ ‘“Wha-what you doin’?” queries Elliot. “two rugs, one talkin’ machine, one statue of Venus,” I continue. denly stop. ‘‘ You explained to this man, didn’t you, Mr. Tayler,” I inquire, “ that by-payin’ a little on account he could stop all this?” “Oh, yes, sheriff!” deelites Ed, writin’ away like a stenographer. I made the remark careless—like, but it was my big play. If I could seare Elliot into payin’ even one buck on account, my work was done. For the payment would bring to life Elltot’s dead account with Flubb & Company and let the furniture- people recover their money, or their fur- niture, by law. And, by the arrangement old Giles had with Flubb & Company, we got our commission then just like we’d col- lected every cent that was due on the fur- niture. Elliot shifts frem one foot to the other, and shoots a hand into a pants pocket. What he hauls out, though, is only a hand- kerchief. Seein’ I have him worried, I stop makin’ my list and turn to him. “Mr. Elliot,” I say, ‘“my time’s valu- ’ble. I don’t want to go along wastin’ it by checkin’ over this furniture if you’re goin’ to pay somethin’ to Mr. Taylor. Tell me now if you intend to pay somethin’ and Vil—” Then I sud- THE ARGOSY. “IT got no money,” says Elliot nervous; like. Then his mean little face wrinkles up suspicious. ‘‘Suppese I don’t pay nothin’,’”’ he asks me, “ what then?” Pll admit he had me. In dopin’ out the little one-act play me and Ed was per- formin’ for his benefit, I hadn’t gone no further than the scene that was.then bein’ acted. I had took it for granted that the handcuffs, and the sealed papers, and the title of sheriff would be enough to scare him into comin’ through with some jack. “Aha!” I exclaim, lookin’ at him with pity. “‘ You don’t know what happens to you if you don’t pay?” “No, I don’t,” he says. . What Pyou think of that, Mr. Tay- lor?” I ask Ed. ‘“ He don’t knew what he’s layin’ himself in for by not payin’!” “Tut, tut, tut!” clicks Ed with his tongue, shakin’ his head. “TY ain’t paid nothin’ in twelve years,” says Elliot stubbornlike, ‘ and there ain’t never nothin’ happened.” , “ You never had a sheriff around before, did you?” I ask him. “No,” he says, ‘ } never did.”’ : Ha!” I say. “ That’s it! Well, Mr, Faylor—one sofa, one pitcher of Wash- in’ton Crossin’ the Delaware, one bed- spring—” “Filey, wait!” .requests Elliot. ain’t told me—”’ “ Please, don’t interrupt!” ¥ bark at him, givin’ him a cold and fishy eye. ‘“ One pianner stool, one lib’ry table—” ‘This is my house,” proclaims Elliot. ‘““ } demand to know—” , : “Listen, you!” I roar at him. ‘“ Quit buttin’ m. You’re interferin’ with the law in its course. Now, about this bein’ your. house—what you say may be true, but this furniture ain’t yours. It’s goin’ back to the people it belongs to.” re ‘“ How?” he asks. “Mr. Taylor and me,” I tell him, ‘“ are goin’ to fit it with wings and let it fly back. Hew’d you think it was goin’ back? We'lt get a van as soon as my list’s made up.” ‘But if I give you some money—” he suggests, and the sneaky smile that come over his face told me what was in his mind. . He’d come through with a buck or so to cComicoooks C@