Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

SEE BMERICS FIRST. ble, Honest John summoned Micky, a city- bred youth of seventeen or so, whose pallid face always bore plentiful smudges of oil and grease, and who acted as mechanic to- word such cars as stopped at Skookum In- let. He conferred earnestly with Micky for a full ten minutes and came away reassured by the young man’s boastful promises. - “ Why, I know that trick ever since I was a kid,”’ Micky had assured him. “ I'll guarantee you to get that old bus to run so far off the two of ’em can’t walk back to make any kicks. Leve the whole thing t’ me, and remember a ten-spot’ S cheap for the overtime I put in.’ II. As the two friends came closer to the summer and winter resort hotel they were aware of music pouring from the open par- lor windows, accompanied by the shuffling “of feet and a rapid fire of directiens uttered in a clear, carrying, ladylike voice. On the veranda they paused to peer in at an ani- mated scene. | _ At this particular time the constant guests of the hotel consisted of half a dezen —~married women whose husbands joined them over the week ends. There was only one exception, and he was the young man who appeared to be in charge of the lively proceedings in the hotel parlor. The phonograph v-as grinding out a pop- ular jazz record, and the young man was performing some very interesting steps while all the ladies watched with rapt at- tention. He was a tall and very slim young man, with a pallid skin and a mane of hair sleeked straight back off his nobby fore- head. He wore a skin-tight suit of hwely brown, a suit ‘that sported a pinched-in back and saucy, open cuffs. He also sport- ed a lively silk shirt and college-boy collar, bright silk socks and white canvas shoes _and a futurist cravat. The young man was saying as he moved, ‘“ Now, ladies, make it snappy—like this: step —- step — step, pivot, hesitate; step— -step — step — shimmy. Now, please, let’s all try it. Step—step—shake your shoul- ders! More pep, ladies; more pep, please! Oh, no, no, no, this won’t do. Come!” He 431 clapped his hands sharply and the perform- ance stopped. ‘“ Now again,” he coaxed sweetly, “and this time let’s get some punch in it. Step—step—step—”’ Bruce Ray whispered hoarsely into New- ell’s ear: ‘‘ My suffering soul, Wally, when I heard his voice I thought he was a lady! Did you ever see the beat of that for a show?”’ ““T see something like it at the circus in Whatcom one time,” Wally admitted, ‘“‘ but it was a show that advertised for men only. What kind of a joint is this dump any- howe Most of them ladies is old enough to know better.”’ Ray clutched his friend’s arm sharply. ‘ Look ’t the little yellow-haired one,’’ he whispered tensely. ‘“ She can do it! Gawd, I never seen any better dancing than that in my life!” He became quiet, breathing hard as he watched a slender, yellow-haired girl with a@ pert nose who was dancing with all the advantages of youth and vigor on her side. And as he watched the genteel young mas- ter of ceremonies singled out this girl for more attention. ‘“ Now, ladies, watch me and Miss Burke a moment, please. This is how it should go.” The couple swayed and _ shivered through the popular dance, and Bruce Ray stared with all his eyes. Their gyrations _brought them close to the window, and as she passed, the yellow-haired girl favored both men with a tantalizing smile. Ray started as if a bullet had struck him. “That must be Honest John’s girl, Fancy,” Wally Newell murmured thought- fully. “ Kind of a flyaway, ain’t she?”’ “Look here, Wally Newell ” — Ray wheeled on his friend—‘ that ain’t no way to talk about a innocent young girl, and you damn well know it. If you can’t act like a gent when there’s ladies around—”’ “My, Godfrey,”’ cried Newell, startled, ‘“‘T never said nothin’!” “You said enough,” Ray growled me- nacingly. Honest John’s step on the porch inter- rupted them, and coincident with that came the ringing of a dinner bell that stopped the dancing. Wally Newell followed his CONMUC OOOLK (COL