Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

CLOTHES FOR A WEEK, some bright-faced, clear-eyed girl, wishing himself in place of the young fellow of her choice. At times, when out of work, he had sat in the kitchen of his home of the mo- Ment; and once, when sick, he had been mothered by the buxom widow from whom he rented a room—and from these good souls he had received the material for a re- building of his viewpoint. On the night of the dinner he had taken Mary home. She had been flushed from the dancing, possessed of the animation of joyous youth. His mind had been intent upon the results of his talk to the assembled metallurgists—it was a professional affair —and he could see now how little attention he had paid her, how he had quenched her spirits. A number of times before he had been her escort, but—he had been intent upon his own plans and ambitions and pro- jects always. She had never even entered his thoughts, when away from her. What a fool he had been! At the theater she questioned him, and he replied without admitting to the full his four years of sulking. After a bit he suc- ceeded in diverting the conversation to her- self, where he kept it. The play, which held them in spots, was over finally, and she turned to him in the lobby. ‘* And now, busy man, can I—dare I— ask you to take me to supper!” She smiled, most alluringly, tucking her hand beneath his arm. “You can ask me for anything!” he re- plied. “‘ I’ll even design you a little foundry or smelting plant all your own, but ’—teas- ingly —‘ I’ve got to start talking to a man named Workmaster at eight-thirty sharp on rather important business!” They dined down at the Lafayette, a place of memories to both of them. Through seven courses she endeavored to get from. him the whole story of his exile, but with scant success. Finally, over the biscuit tortoni, she leaned two dimpled el- bows upon the table. “Jack!” speculatively. proved!” | ‘* Meaning?” ‘You used to be a thinking machine, and now—” T 4 Yes?” “ You’ve im- “Yowre becoming, actually ”—giggling —‘‘ a human being!”’ ‘“‘ Can—” he hesitated, then took the step —‘“ can you take a human being seriously?” He leaned forward with a real earnestness. She sobered. ‘‘ When I’m assured there’s to be no relapse, why, perhaps—” A sud- den riot of color suffused her face. She had not expected this from him, at least, so suddenly. ‘‘ Perhaps—”’ He echoed her last word. He had come to New York prepared to make up for all his past omissions. Mary was one of them. He was determined to build for the future solidly this time. Mary was revealed to him suddenly as an essen- tial cornerstone. Until she had put her hands upon his shoulders in the hotel he had not thought of her, but he was none the less sincere. It was simply that a subcon- scious love had suddenly become intensely objective. She glanced at her wrist watch. ‘“ You will have to hurry,” she said, ‘‘ to talk to Mr. Workmaster at eight-thirty!” When a man ceases to be a buffeted plaything of fate and begins to push his own destiny, it seems as if everything breaks for him at once. Later he may have trouble, but just after the turning point he is apt to have an amazing sort of beginner’s luck. Jack closed the St. Louis deal with Work- master without trouble. The following day he completed his arrangements with Stevens. Before two days more had passed he had signed five agreements for work which would keep him steadily employed—rushed —until spring. Not once was his Cleve- land mistake mentioned. Every evening the imperturbable Oscar waited up for him, or laid out dress clothes if he came home before dinner and required them. Every morning a different business Suit was ready. For the first two days his conscience bothered him. By the sixth he had managed to collect one advance fee and outfit himself. The seventh day he sallied forth in his own habiliments, informing Os- car he would not return. The mysterious Mr. Dupree had not ap- peared. Too busy to wonder further at the motives behind that gentleman’s generosity, Co DOOK 287 | C@©