Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

928 Allison stock was worthless. I couldn’t buy it because I have no money to squander and because I suppose I would be compounding a felony if I did. I don’t know about that. Maybe it’s a fine point in law. You might ask Thornton Holmes.” Seagrave, uninvited, sat down. He felt the need of support. ‘You needn’t rub it in, Ruth,” he said. “P’ve been a blundering chump as usual. But I was only trying to protect you. Let’s have the details. What was Miller’s busi- ness with your” ‘His business with me was to sell me stock in the Allison company,” Ruth said. ‘“ My business with him was to buy Allison’s lease on the building Allison is using. You see, I’m going to need more foundry space when our new stove is ready for manufac- ture. There isn’t another building in town suitable for my purpose. Maybe you know what building costs are to-day. I can save fifteen thousand dollars by taking over Alli- son’s lease, because I know I can buy the building at a ridiculously low figure. That was my business with Miller. That has been my business with Allison right along, though he didn’t know it. Pshaw, Arthur, Allison’s company was doomed to fail. I saw that as soon as Allison tried to interest me in it. He wanted to get hold of my money. Why, he offered to sell me three hundred thousand deliars’ worth of stock for a hundred thousand. I was afraid he was too generous.” “Ts Ailison going to close up his busi- ness?” : ‘“T think he has closed it up. I believe he is ready to leave town.” “ He'll get away,” Seagrave said. “ The Federal authorities haven’t enough on him to hold him.” ‘“T know of three distinct transactions conducted through the mail, on any one of which Allison could be held,” Ruth said. “Allison was inclined to be confidential in his eagerness to sell me stock.” ‘“ The Federal authorities ought to be no- tified about your information before Alli- son clears out. May I use your phone? Federal men are discreet. They can handle your information without bringing you into the case.” dismissal of the whole subject. _her head with sudden briskness in her man- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘‘ Allison had a notion, shared by a good many other people, that a woman in busi- ness would be an easy mark, as the phrase is,” Ruth said. “ He made me angry by his attitude. I've been waiting to get that lease before I acted. I telephoned just a mo- ment ago to Thornton Holmes and told him everything I know. I imagine Allison won't run very far.” Seagrave sat staring at his wife for a few minutes. Her eyes had dropped to a paper lying on her desk. It was a transfer of Allison’s lease to herseli. “Tf my hat wasn’t already off, I’d take it off to you, Ruth,” Seagrave said. “You're a wonder,” ‘ All right,” said Ruth with a gesture of She lifted ner. “ How about your going to work for the Seagrave company?” she asked, ‘““ }’m here,’’ Seagrave said. ‘‘ I’d be glad to learn the stove business and business gen- erally under the present head of the Sea- grave company.” CHAPTER XII. SEAGRAVE TAKES OFF HIS COAT, 2 OU will want to go into the sales y department of course,’’ Ruth said. “Of course not,’ Seagrave re- torted. “JT want to go into the foundry.” “What do you want to do in the foun- dry?” Ruth asked in some surprise. ‘‘ Whatever there is to do,” he answered. “You don’t seem to remember that my training wasn’t confined to selling stoves. I know how to make stoves.” “You may have known how to make stoves five years ago,” Ruth said. “ You'll find when we get our new stove ready for manufacture that you are somewhat behind the times. We have a model completed, and Olney is making a test this morning.” ‘“T have plans for a new steve of my own,” said Seagrave. “I’d like to carry on a few experiments in the foundry. I’ve borrowed some money from Holmes and he will be in on my profits. Ill share with the Seagrave company, too, if anything comes of it.” coniclaeoalks (EO) An