Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

120 scowl at a-man and get rid of him, but with Nonita he usually submitted meekly. She told Bixby the amount of the tax he had paid the year previous. “How do you-know?” he asked, admit- ting the figures were correct. “ Didn’t I write a check that could have been raised to any amount by unscrupulous hands. You should have some device to protect your checks, but that is quite irrele- vant. What I was going to say is that I can show you a perfectly legitimate and honest way of reducing your tax by a quar- ter. How does that sound?” “Sounds all right,” admitted Bixby. * But I don’t believe it.’’ “ Getting interested, though, aren’t you?”’ she taunted. ‘If you'll just wait a minute - I’ll have the proof here.” She went to Bixby’s phone and called up her own office across the hall. It would have been as easy to walk to it, but that would be not so impressive. Moore an- swered her. © “ Busy?” she asked. ‘‘ Well, when you get time bring over to Mr. Bixby’s office those papers I have prepared. They’re on the desk.” Moore took the hint that he was not to hurry. Bixby waited impatiently and re- peated his offer to give Nonita her old job. “Tm sorry,” she replied. “ But if things turn out right I expect Dll be married shortly.” Nonita considered it a rash statement as soon as she had made it. But then she was used to doing rash things. “ To—to your partner?” asked Bixby. Nonita nodded. ‘“ Only he don’t know it yet,” she hastened to add. For once in his life Bixby chuckled. Per- haps the remark had aroused some fond memory. Anyway when Moore entered the atmosphere had changed considerably since his last visit. Nonita took the papers. ‘‘ Now, listen, Mr. Bixby,” she commanded and looked at Moore signifying that he was to do the same. “In the course of my work with you,” she continued, “I could not help knowing that you personally possessed bonds of the Greenwich Railroad, Oaklawn Motors, and Clyde Oils, all yielding six per ‘ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. cent or better. These constituted the greater portion of your taxable income. Now if you convert these bonds into some that are just as good security, but pay but four per cent and yet are not taxable your in- come will be proportionately reduced, but the absence of a tax will more than offset this reduction and you will be the gainer in the end. There!” Nonita confidently finished her argument. Moore was astonished at her knowledge and Bixby was partially convinced. A few questions to which there were ready an- swers persuaded him that the pian was feasible. “Then I’m engaged?” asked Nonita. “You said so,” answered Bixby, a twin- kle in his eye. ‘“‘{ mean are you going to let us prepare your return?” she asked, blushing. ‘““T guess it will be more profitable for me unless you charge exorbitant prices for your advice.” Moéte was entirely out of the transac- tion. He didn’t understand a bit of it and -he was quite contented to let Nonita handle matters. ‘““T was coming to that,” she said. “‘ My plan will save you at least four thousand dollars a year and as our share I demand half. That’s a lot, I know, but we need it.” Moore gasped. Bixby started to pro- test, but Nonita continued: “ Both parties will be two thousand to the good. Of course that sum doesn’t mean much to you, Mr. Bixby, but it will insure us in running so serviceable a business a little while longer beside—” And here she looked at Sebast,; who stood open-mouthed in awe. “Tl thank Mr. Bixby for the firm,” she said. “ And, Sebast,” she asked, winking to Bixby, “ wasn’t there something you were going to say to me about supporting—” ‘But not here,” he stammered, and the two of them, who had so suddenly become one of the four million, linked arms and strode back to the door that Sebast insisted would be changed to read: N. and S. MOORE Go NOOK (C@ S|