Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

198 summated at the directors’ meeting of the bank on Wednesday last. Miss Benson’s many friends are extending congratulations in full confidence that her ability and efficiency are fully equal to the requirements of her new position. Mr. Edward Chesterton French dropped his feet to the floor. Then he lighted a cigarette and flipped the match into the fire- place, after which he went and stood by ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the window, from which he could look diag- onally across the street at the granite front of Benson’s Bank. He blew several tenu- ous clouds of smoke in the general direction of the rival institution. Then he remarked: “Well, the little snipe! Now wouldn’t that bump you!” After this he rang for his stenographer and fell busily, not to say fiercely, upon his morning’s dictation. THE END. U U U U WHEN EARS WERE THE NEMESIS OF A RULER IMMORTAL FRAUD By CAPTAIN HORATIO WRAGGE MERDIS, the impostor who succeeded in ascending the throne of Persia in the sixth S century before the Christian era, had the misfortune to be mutilated by order of Cyrus, founder of the empire. His ears were cut off because he told a lie to the king. Smerdis took good care after that to wear his hair in a fashion that concealed his misfortune. He had a powerful brother at court named Patizeithes, and between Smerdis and Patizeithes there existed the warmest affection. Smerdis became very timid and retiring because he felt that every- body knew his ears had been cut off. Patizeithes, who was a Magian, well versed in every kind of black art, assured the shy Smerdis that his mutilation would be avenged. This Magian Patizeithes wawas insinuating as he was cunning. In no very long time he had wormed his way into the complete confidence of Cambyses, who ruled Persia with firmness and ability. So fully did the ruler of Persia trust the Magian, that when Cambyses left his country on his famous expedition into Egypt he left Patizeithes behind at Susa, the capital, in charge of his palace and his treasures. “At last,” cried the Magian to his earless brother, “ you will be avenged.” Smerdis could not imagine how this retribution would be exacted until Patizeithes explained a plan he had formed. “‘T will place you upon the throne of Persia.” ome whose nature was timid, did not fall in readily with the idea. Patizeithes pointed out that the brother of the king not only bore a striking personal resemblance to: Smerdis but had also the same name. This true Smerdis was with his brother Cambyses in Egypt, but he was soon after sent back to Susa because he alone could draw a bow that came into camp in some queer fashion. There are hints that this was part of the great treachery planned by the brother of the Smerdis who had no ears. At any rate, there were now two men named Smerdis in the grand palace at Susa, where Patizeithes was in control and it became necessary to get that one of them who was the king’s brother out of the way. The thing was done by Patizeithes through the medium of a rogue in his pay. This rogue was in Egypt with Cambyses, waiting for one of the king’s inevitable dreams to be interpreted. The Wrong Man in the Right Place. In due time King Cambyses had one of his regular dreams—no man before or since had such remarkable dreams—and the rogue in the pay of Patizeithes made it mean that his brother wanted to usurp the throne. Cambyses immediately sent a confidential servant of his back to the capital of Susa with orders to slay his own brother Smerdis. Patizeithes pretended not to know what it all meant, but he hid behind a curtain and witnessed the slaughter of the king’s brother, Smerdis. The body was taken by night to a garden and there buried, but Patizeithes did not so much as hint that he was aware of the proceedings. He introduced his brother, the false Smerdis, into the dead man’s apartments and told him to get ready for the part of impostor. The great Persian nobles had grown more and more disgusted with the tyranny of Cambyses COMmiclboo SS