Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

126 Grinnell looked up, feigning surprise, and smiled at the jest. “TI ate in a hurry to get back and study these sheets, Great system!’’ The other looked at him speculatively but because of the dark glasses Merle could not determine that quality. Wolf grunted assent. Then asked skeptically— ‘You make head or tail of it?” The boy smiled again—with designed modesty—and tilted his head. “Well, it took me quite a while, but I guess I’ve got it now.” This industry touched Wolf’s business sense. No one in that department had ever demonstrated a like interest—except Peter Howard. : “Did Howard show you?” he asked. “Oh yes—something about it,”’—with a laugh which artfully suggested difficulties. “‘He—well, he isn’t very full of pep any- how. We live at the same house and I can see that he’s about all in every night. Quite a strain, I guess.” “‘Whump,” said Wolf, under his breath and passed on to the stairway. After he had left, young Mr. Grinnell grinned to himself. He had gone a long way toward setting himself in Wolf’s favor; also, he had planted two varieties of the seeds of suspicion in the boss’s mind re- garding Peter Howard: The shipping department was but a de- tail; however, in efficient method detail is supremely important. Wolf was, that afternoon, at once worried and relieved. He had thought from time to time that with the going of Peter changes must be made; he would be unable to find a man at Peter’s price who could do Peter’s work. But now came a youth out of the West who was at once intelligent, ambitious and unafraid of extra hours, bearing an intima- tion of Howard’s aversion to training an- other for his task, the task which was taxing his failing health. Hence the manufac- turer’s mingled feeling of concern and as- surance. Vea AT MRS. BRANDT’S young Merle (5) easily managed to retain the center ES) ofthestage. Life was almost wholly good with him. The attention he com- manded gratified his avid ego; his progress at the delicate task of undermining Peter Howard was more lively than he could have hoped for. Adventure The one jarring note in the whole was the fact that Mamie’s attitude was such that he felt the others must be aware of the con- tempt with which she held him; and for Mamie’s good will he would have bartered that of all the rest. Never a spoken word indicated the girl’s condition of mind; neither did Mamie give the usual outward indications of disdain. She seldom seemed aware of Grinnell’s presence in spite of the fact that she took no obvious pains to avoid him, that cir- cumstance being evidence of a true sense of superiority. But now and then when he reverted to his favorite theme of life under the white lights, of luxurious drinking- places, of smart debauchery, of women and sleek automobiles, the very names of which signify speed in both its highly proper and colloquial uses, he felt Mamie’s disgusted eyes on him. He could never stop the flush that crept over his pallid face; for he knew, with the keen intuition which the counterfeit acquire for the real, that, compared to this girl, he was a babe in the worldly experience of which he boasted. Thrice again Wolf saw Grinnell hard at the task of learning things behind Peter’s wicket and he asked: ‘““How’s he getting on?” “Fine!”? exclaimed Peter in a lowered tone. “He’s the brightest young chap we’ve ever had here. Why, I believe he could take my place tomorrow!” Later in the day he could not help telling Merle that Wolf was pleased with his in- dustry. Such was his way and thereby he gave the boy the cue for his last move. And at the next opportunity Grinnell played his high trump with Wolf. Yes, he was sorry, but he felt that for his own good he’d better quit. There seemed to be nothing better ahead of him there—right away, anyhow. He had two or three other places on the string; so he guessed as soon as they could get somebody else to take his place he’d. Wolf, pinching his nose, stared at the floor through his dark glasses and opined that perhaps in a week or so something might happen; in fact, he advised young Merle to stay on at least a week. There- upon Grinnell understood and rendered the impression that he did not understand, was very respectful and would be grateful for anything that.... CoOMmiclsoo (©