All Story Magazine, December 1913 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

A THIEVES’ COMEDY. His voice softened and his manner became fatherly. “No, it ain’t too much,” the girl answered, and, in spite of my presence, her head sneaked nearer to his shoul- der. ‘“ But I was worried stiff las’ night, thinkin’ he was sure goin’ to holler hisself into kmgdom come afore mornin’. I guess he had a pain some- wheres, and, as he ain't able to say where, he just opens his face and lets it rip. He was sleepin’ w’en I leit.” “ But the nurse—couldn’t she—” “T fired her yes’day mornin’,” Della interrupted disgustedly, and Camp- bell’s mouth twisted as if he wanted to laugh, but did not dare to. ‘ She didn’t- do nothin’ I couldn't get by with myself, and I guessed you could use the little fifty a mont’ some ways else. Nessie wouldn’t of stood for it. You know she wouldn’t. She'd ‘a’ took the Gobbler and beat it some- wheres — and woiked for him— an’ she'd never have let a man_ that ain’t—” “Della!” The warning was low. I saw the girl search Campbell's face affrightedly. His expression was a little harder. “I forgot,” Della pleaded. “I Wussent to say that again — but — but ‘"—her attention was riveted sud- denly upon me—*‘ what's he hangin’ aroun’ for? If he’s spieled his little piece, why don’t he beat it?” Campbell nodded to me and smiled. “ Mr. Mason is going to call upon the Gobbler with me—when we take you home to-night.” “He is—eh?” Again I came un- der the censorship of those great blue eyes. “ What’s your graft? You a new member?” Campbell laughed softly while I looked foolish. “Mr. Mason is not a new member,” my host answered for me. ‘ But he is almost as anxious to find Smith as we are, and will be pleased to meet the Gobbler on that account.” “Gee! ”’ Della scrutinized me _ thoroughly 763 this time, as if she were searching for the cause of my antipathy to Smith. * Say—if you lamp him first put me wise, will you? I'd do the same for you.” The eagerness of the question and the evident genuineness of her offer kept my face straight, and I nodded. The little hard lines about her mouth softened instantly. “Ts that on the level? ”’ ‘On the level,’ I answered, and felt a twinge of cdénscience, since I knew very well I should never keep my promise. Smothering a smile, Campbell glanced at his watch and rose. * Twelve o’clock and all’s well,” he announced sonorously. ‘And now that there is a bond of understanding between you, we shall cement it with a glimpse of the Gobbler. May we be permitted to spend money on a tani, Miss Econoniy ? ”’ Della looked up quickly. “Not on your life. I didn’t fire that noice so’s we could ride roun’ in buzz-wagons. I jus’ seen the receip’ for the rent yes’day, an’, gee, I a’most choked! The agen’ handed it to me by mistake. Seven’y-five bucks a mont’—an’ I knows famblies what's livin’ on eight per. “All them glad rags me an’ the Gobbler’s gotta wear, too, must ha’ stood you up for a pile o’ rocks. Ey’ry time I pipe a hock-shop I gotta hit the high places to keep from slippin’ in to see what I could raise on them. I feel like a walkin’ meal-ticket for a dozen o them poor guys in the bread-line, an’ I jus’ hate to have the little sawn- off what sells pencils at the foot o’ the ‘L’ station stairs lamp me as I blow by.” “That's all right, Campbell gently. little girl,’ said “We'll forego the extravagance of a taxi and take the * we a “Already! I ain’t been here a minute.” “And you haven't slept ies forty hours,” Campbell Femtaded CO HEBOD KS: conn