Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

pacity of bond salesman for Gunning & Co. There he discovered that his physical con- _ dition counted for much, and the same abil- ity that had served him so well in college counted for more, and he forged ahead so rapidly that Mr. Gunning called him into his private office and complimented him. This meant a preat deal. Mr. Gunning was mot among the lesser powers in the Street. Indeed, men said the market’ ate out of Mr. Gunning’s hand, and when things Slid out from under and the lambs were caught by their pretty pink toes, it was whispered around that old man Gunning had raked in a couple of country estates, a few private yachts and a fleet or so of motor cars. os That day Sam had walked from the office touching the floor only about once in every three strides, and then he fell into real hap- Piness and real trouble all at the same in- stant. Coming toward him was the most radiant creature in the world. She was talking and laughing with dried-up old Peters, the head bookkeeper. Sam had in- stantly loathed Peters and then loved him, because the next moment he was being in- troduced to Constance Gunning. Sam held her hand for a long time and remembered all the lonesome years of his life and marveled greatly that he had been able to live through them. Apparently Constance’s thoughts were in perfect unison with his, for she never did reach her father’s office. Instead she went down to the street with Sam, where she let him buy her a soda and told him that she liked men with gray eyes. Their friendship was as swift as a ten- inch shell—and as deadly. Two days later Sam explained to Constance that he loved her as no other girl had ever been loved. Constance said that she had known it all he time and kissed him and let him slip a ring, with a very small diamond, on her a4ger—and then the trouble began to make had laid careful plans re- ; future, but the possi- ‘her becoming the wife of one of lesmen figured in none of called into the private = » ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ning pointed these things out to him. The interview ended by Mr. Gunning requestin Sam never to show his face inside the Fifth Avenue house again, denied him the use of the telephone and the United States mail and fired hire;ttelling him to « get to hell out and stay out!” Sam had gone directly toa telephone, and a half hour later he and Constance were baving tea in a little tea shop on Fortieth Street. She had tried to induce him to go with her to the City Hall so they could get @ marriage license without further delay, With the picture of Mr. Gunning stil] vivid in his mind, Sam had demurred, and raised so many objections that Constance had accused him of not loving her. “I do love you,” Sam had answered gloomily. “But the trouble is that your father doesn’t love me!” “That’s perfectly stupid!” Constance had exclaimed. ‘ Because you are not mar- rying my father; you are marrying me—at least, you said you wanted to marry me— maybe—”’ “If you look like that again,” Sam had interrupted, “I’m going to kiss you and horrify the waitress!” So they didn’t reach any decision, but went to a movie instead and sat in the gale lery because the seats were cheaper than in the orchestra. The picture was a “so- ciety drama,” in which the thirty-five-year- old heroine with curls to her waist, refused to sell herself for gold, but married her father’s chauffeur instead. Constance felt very much cheered up and held Sam’s hand when the lights went out for the next pic- ture. “You see,” she had whispered. ‘ That's the way it’s going to be with us! We're go- ing to live happily ever afterward!” * It listens well,” Sam had muttered, un- convinced. “Only that chap turned out to be a prince in disguise, and if I’m a prince, my retainers and subjects have forgotten to mention the fact.” ' Then Constance had made herself quite clear by saying that if Sam didn’t get up enough nerve to marry her, she would marry some one else out of spite. Sam had pleaded for a month in which to make a fortune so he could give her something near to what comicbooks.cor