Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

THE CALL OF SHINING STEEL. as though his ears had betrayed him, looked in consternation at the figure in carpet slip- pers and bandaged hands opposite. The superintendent hunched forward over his desk, a half-smoked cigar held upright part .way to his lips, wonder written on his face. Then as Zeb watched, the superinten- dent’s eyes wrinkled, his expression changed into a grin, he threw back his head and laughed. The other two men joined him. “ Haw, haw, haw!” they roared. “ That’s good. Best one I ever heard!” Zeb felt a slow surge of anger creeping over him at their heartlessness. Here he had thrown his job away, pitched his hopes and ambitions to one side in those few words and they laughed at him. Finally the laughter stopped, the super- intendent stood up and patted him on the shoulder. “ Zeb, I understand why you made that statement. I respect you for it, but it’s funny just the same.” “ What’s funny about it?” Zeb sputtered. “Why, Jim Brown not ten minutes ago told us just what you did—word for word. I believe him. The evidence is all to sub- stantiate his statement. Jim Brown is no longer in the service of the company. And Zeb,” the superintendent’s voice became serious, “I want to thank. you for taking the cHance you did last night. It probably was the means of saving life, not to men- tion company property. Lay off as long as you want to. T’ll see you get paid for all the time you’re out. I’m sorry. It’s all I can do for you, but T hope I may be able to show my appreciation later.” Zeb murmured: “ Thank you, Colonel,” and hurried from the room. He was afraid if he stayed there, he might make a show of himself. - Jim was done. He knew that as long as the present officials were in charge of the division, his friend would never get his job again. He was sorry for him. He had certainly been a steadfast friend and it was indeed hard to realize that just after his promotion to engineer, not three months ago, Jim Brown should be bumped off. As Zeb crossed the street, the thought ran through his mind— One less, I’m up Se = the list now.” 279 Instantly he hated himself for it, loathed the fact that he would advance by Jim’s misfortune. In perplexity he searched his mind to discover some way he might help Jim. He was willing to do anything possible, for he foresaw that his friend would slide rapidly down now that the one thing which served as a check on him was gone. He entered the boarding house, climbed the stairs to his floor and opened the door of his room. Inside sat Jim, heeled back in a chair, his feet propped up on the dresser, calmly smoking: a cigarette. . Heyho, Zeb! I sure pulled the prize boner last night, and they didn’t lack a thing of knocking my legs out from under me this pleasant a. m.” “Jim, I’m sorry. I—I tried to help you, but I couldn’t.” Jim threw the cigarette down half smoked, got up and faced Zeb. “Listen, you old son of a beehive! I know you did. I heard all about how you stayed with the jack and drew the fire. Sorry you got burned, but don’t give a fiddler’s cuss about their old boiler. I’m excommunicated from the pay car for life. And, kid, I’m sorry as the devil it all oc- curred. I might have got you in dut “What do you aim to do now?” was Zeb’s anxious question. Jim lit another cigarette before answering. “Well, I was figuring. Ring has a chance to move uptown and start another chop joint. I was talking to him. Hell sell his bean foundry cheap here. I had started to soak some dough down to buy it when this happened. laid up and pitched a drunk to celebrate with the well known results.” | Zeb studied for a minute, then made his offer. “T’ve got a good pile in the bank. You go down to Ring’s and make the arrange- ments. I'll stake you to what money you need.” To Jim’s eager words of thanks, Zeb merely waved a bandaged hand. “Cut out the gratitude. I owe you it. Run along now. I want to soak these fists.” _Jim burried from the room, whistling — = I got about a third - = > Om x athe