Adventure Magazine Cover — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

4 W. Cc. TUTTLE caucuses that the firm supply each book- keeper with a fountain pen, in order to econ- omize on lost motions—and nearly lost his job. Not because of trying to increase the efficiency of the bookkeeping depart- ment, but because fountain pens cost money. All the firm mail came to Blair Mellon’s office, and it was his delight to distribute it. Just now he had several letters which he was passing out. He walked past James, stopped. James was looking at the street again. The old man scowled at the letters in his hand, one of which was addressed to James Eaton Legg. It bore the imprint of a Chicago law firm. Blair Mellon did not believe that a book- keeper should waste his time in looking out of the window, but just now he couldn’t think of a fitting rebuke; so he placed the letter on James Legg’s desk and went on. James Legg’s mild blue eyes contemplated the name of the law firm on the envelope. It all looked so very legal that James won- dered what it might all mean. He drew out the enclosure and read it carefully. Then he removed his glasses, polished them carefully, and read it again. Then he pro- pounded inelegantly, but emphatically— “Well, Pll be ——!” Blair Mellon had come back past the desk just in time to hear this exclamation. He stopped short and stared at James. “Mr. Legg!” he said curtly. “You evi- dently forget the rule against profanity in this office.” But James Legg ignored everything, ex- cept his own thoughts. “Tf that don’t beat ——, what does?”’ he queried. Blair Mellon stared aghast. This was downright mutiny. He struggled for the proper words with which to rebuke this young man. “Say, Caucus,” said James, giving Mellon the nickname he had never heard before, ‘“‘where do they raise cattle?” “Were you speaking to me, sir?” de- manded Mellon. James realized what he had said, and for a moment his face flushed. “T beg your pardon, Mr. Mellon.” “T should think you would, sir. language!” It seemed that all work had ceased in the office. Not even a telephone bell rang. “Have you any excuse for speaking in Such such a manner?”? demanded the old man, conscious that every one had heard. James Eaton Legg surveyed the room. Every eye was upon him. He noticed that even the stenographers had ceased chewing their gum. Then James Legg laughed, as he drew off his black sateen oversleeves and cast them aside. He slid off his stool, almost into the irate Mellon. ‘Well, sir!” the old man’s voice creaked. ‘“‘Aw, save it for somebody that’s working for you,” said James Legg easily. “I’ve quit.” “Quit?” “Yes. Strange, isn’t it?’ James Legg smiled at theold man. ‘‘Bookkeepers don’t usually quit, do they? No, they stick to the job until their chin hits their knees, and the undertaker has to put them in a press for two days before they’ll fit a casket. I suppose the cashier will pay me off, Mr. Mellon.” ‘“‘Well—er—yes, sir! It is just as well that you do quit. This is very, very un- usual for an employee of Mellon and Com- pany to—”’ “To quit?” smiled James. edent.” “Ordinarily, we would offer a letter of recommendation, but in a case of—”’ “Couldn’t use it, but thank you just the same, Mr. Mellon. I am through keeping books. I’m going to take a job where I can breathe fresh air, smoke a cigaret on the job and swear when I —— please.” The old man’s lean jaw set tightly for a moment, but he said icily: “‘And what are you going to do, if I may ask?” ““Me?”’ James Legg smiled broadly around theroom. ‘I’m going to bea cowpuncher.”’ “A--a—whatr’ “A cowboy, if that makes it plain to you.” One of the stenographers tittered. She had her own idea of a cowboy, possibly not from the real article; so she might be for- given for seeing humor in Legg’s statement. He flushed a little, turned on his heel and went to the wash-room, every one looking after him. Blair Mellon broke the spell with— “The incident is over, I believe, ladies and gentlemen.”’ Which was sufficient to put them all back to work, while James Eaton Legg accepted his pay from the stiff-faced cashier and “Sets a prec- COnniclooo SS (C@