Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

JIM THE WISE. swered Bob, who always did most of the talking for the pair. Tom signified his absolute confidence in the great ‘“ putter- up of jobs” by nodding his head emphati- cally. Jim looked from one to the other and smiled. “By George, it’s wonderful, that kind of faith! Really, boys, you flatter me. I have always admired you twins very much. In your way you are positively brilliant. You’ve never served time—no more have I, but I’ve stood in the wings, as it were, and directed performances, principally. You boys have helped many a poor devil when he needed it, and you’ve always been good to your old parents and your little crippled sister. Really, in a way, I feel kind of in duty bound to advise you to quit the crooked game and go straight.” The twins frowned and shook their heads violently. Bob shrugged his shoulders and turned two appealing eyes toward Jim. “Each time we goes honest, we goes broke. No more for me nor for Tommy, huh, Tommy?” He flashed a glance at his brother. Tom shook his head decisively. “ All right,” replied Jim, ‘‘ we'll take that matter up perhaps at another time. Now, to the business in hand. You twins say that you want to start a diamond palace here in Chicago, stock it up with diamonds, bought from Maiden Lane on credit—loot the place, sell the stones in New York to Ikey the Crab, and beat it for foreign parts. And—you say—al/ you want to accomplish this piece of business is Credit!” “Uh-huh!” signified Bob. “ That’s all.” “That’s all,” repeated Jim the Wise quietly. “Right at this point let me call your attention to the fact that credit is about all nine-tenths of the world wants— that credit is tantamount to coin of the realm and gold coin at that. You might as well come to me with the proposition that you want to start a nice little bank and all you lack is a million dollars to start it with. Will Jim Oliver please arrange so you can get the million? And, supposing I should be able to arrange this credit for you, at just what particular station does old Jim alight from the diamond palace limited, after you squirrels have beat it for Pahree or some other nice, comfortable village?” 141 Then Bob hastened to explain that be- cause of the fact that Mr. Jim would have the most important end to carry, they, the twins, would not only commit the actual theft and attend to the disposal of the swag, but if it came to a showdown and their backer had to do it to save his own skin, it would be with their consent and approval that he could turn State’s evidence and save himself. This was an unusual arrange- ment, but the whole thing was unusual, anyway, and because of this element, and because of the farm and the cows and the bees, and still further because in the thing Jim saw or sensed the opportunity to punish Ikey the Crab for double-crossing Bill Wal- lace, alias Bill the Brute, perjuring him into hell for ten long years—Jim the Wise de- cided to back the twins and not only back them, but manage the job as well, as was his custom. Action following swiftly upon the heels of decision, the following morning there appeared in the leading Chicago daily, un- der the heading of Financial, the following advertisement: WANTED—To borrow fifty thousand dol- lars on bank or other gilt-edged security ; liberal interest payable in advance. Suite 1134 Great Eastern Building. The skillful use of money, the invaluable Services of his old servitor, Black Sam, ac- counted for the rapidity with which Mr. Jim Oliver acquired a magnificent suite of offices, furnished in quiet but forcible ele- gance, and was ready to do business under the pseudonym of Selwyn Eddy, Dealer in Precious Stones, by eight thirty the morning the advertisement appeared. That afternoon about three o’clock, Sam announced: “Mr. Bertram Appleby.” The owner of this name, an elderly, well preserved man of the retired business type, heavy set, gray of hair and eye, followed the dignified Sam through the front office, where two stenographers were too busy to look up for the purpose of noticing a mere caller—through an adjoining room where all that particularly caught the eye was a frosted glass partition screening two-thirds of the room from observation and behind Gomicsvooksaco