Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

ee GENTLEMEN ONLY. 669 4 fates provided a suitable occupant for the front room with the what-not. That he recognized the what-not as such, and com- mented adroitly on the sheen and luster of a treasured highboy, proved partly his eligibility. ‘““A charming room! Perfectly charm- ing,” he enthused. ‘“ There’s a clothes closet, I presume.” “Yes, indeed,”’ and she pointed it out. He sauntered across to inspect it. He was a tall, broad young man with an in- gratiating smile and waving light hair. His blue serge suit was scrupulously pressed and he swung his stick with self-confidence. “Quite exceptional,” he said. ‘And I ought to know. I’ve lived in any number of furnished room houses in town. But what about the price?” It invariably disturbed her—this matter of placing a price tag on her benevolent dream. “Well, you see,’’ she said uneasily, “‘ it’s not so much the price as—as other things.” “Ah! J can see you’re no New York landlady.” “No,” she admitted, “‘ this is a new ven- ture for me. I’m from Sharleyville, Kansas and I—” ‘“‘ Kansas!” he cried delightedly. ‘‘ Why, IT used to know a chap from out that way —at least I-used to know one of his sisters. Lawrence, they came from—her name was Virginia. Pretty, too. She had eyes a bit like yours only not so luminous. Perhaps you knew the family.” She didn’t. But it was via this pleasant detour that they eventually came back to the room with the suave young man at the wheel. “Tt’s a perfectly corking thing to do— you’re coming to the city like this and start- ing a rooming house.” “ Lodging house,” she corrected gently, **T think it sounds a little more—more—’’ “ Exactly. Lodgings, then.” She could see he was humoring her. ‘It’s a risky business though. And Ill wager you don’t _ get the best price for your rooms.” “Oh, but I—I will—eventually,” she said knowingly. ‘‘ Then of course there are so many deserving young men who can’t afford to pay much, I’m afraid.” “But my dear lady,” he was smilingly incredulous, ‘‘ you’re not in this business for your health. You mustn’t let your sym- pathy run away with you. Here you are alone—a widow?” She nodded. “It’s a hazardous undertaking—outside the ques- tion of money. Positively dangerous.” ** Oh, no!” “ But it is!” He was quite fierce about it. “ New York is swarming with unscrupulous men just ready to take advantage of an un- sophisticated little person like you. How do you know you won’t get some clever thief in here who'll walk out with your silver some night?” “But I’m being very cautious,” she told him earnestly. “You can’t be too cautious. New York.” ‘““"You’ve been here long?” “A year. I’m with Hodges—secretary to the old man himself.” ‘““ Hodges?” she queried politely. He gazed at her incredulously. “You must know the name! Hodges! The biggest oilcloth manufacturer in the country. Offices on Broad Street—Hodges Building.” He glanced about the room. “But look here, about this room. You ought to get fifteen a week for it.” “Yes, that’s what I thought.” “At least that,”’ he said decisively. “It 7s a charming room. It would suit me exactly.” ‘Then you must have it,” began Amalie, but he interrupted her with a gesture of mock alarm. ‘““T can’t afford it—not possibly. I pay ten where I am and that’s about all I can sctueeze out of my salary for living quarters. You see,” he was taking her into his con- fidence, “I have to spend a good deal on clothes—old Hodges is a stickler for that sort of thing—and then my other obligations —a man 1 my position, you understand.” He stopped, looked covetously at the what- not and the highboy, sighed. ‘‘ Of course, I’d like no end to take it. The room I’m in now,” he lifted his shoulders significantly, ‘‘ well—there’s not much there to lure a man back to it after a hard day’s work.” He left the suggestion there for her to fill in colorfully with pictures of riotous I know oO GOmMmiGsoOokssco