Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

416 “Why, Fred, this little garage. never spent ten cents for printed stationery of any kind since it started,” he said. “I doubt very much if they have even a print- ed billhead, far less receipt forms, or—”’ “T’m not asking you about their printed matter, Jim. Um asking if you took a receipt for my car?” “No, I did not,’ Mr. Cranning smiled, still unperturbed. “ You’ll understand why, if you ever see the place. Oldish chap, you know. Runs it with his son. Typical New Englanders—honest as the day is long. Don’t you worry a second about the car, Fred!” He smiled very reassuringly. Mr. Bud- long, hands upon his knees, stared at him with the same indescribable intensity for a moment, and then tried to smile. “Tm—not so much worried about— Jim, what was the name of this garage?”’ “T give it up!” said James. “ Do you remember its name, Dot?” “No,” that lady said simply. “Look here! This is getting too vague!”’ said Mr. Budlong. ‘ Why—”’ “ Zenith!”? James cried triumphantly. “That’s it—the Zenith Garage!”’ “ Aha!” said Mr. Budlong, and arose. “Zenith Garage, Potter’s Corners. Is that right?” “No, it wasn’t Potter’s Corners,” said James. “Fred, you’re not thinking of starting for there to-night? The car’s not ready.” Mr. Budlong controlled himself. “ Whether I'll start for there or not, I don’t know. I suppose I may be allowed to know where my car is, though? If it’s not Potter’s Corners, what is it?” “Sims Corners!” James excitedly ex- claimed, since it was quite plain that he must exclaim something of a pretty definite nature. “ That’s it.. Sims Corners.” “ All right,” said Budlong. “ May I use your phone?” “Why not? But—” “Much obliged,” the caller said rather tartly, and strode down the room to the stand in the corner. ‘‘ Gimme long dis- _ tance!” “ You—you going to phone out there?” James asked. | | ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, “Yes. Find out if I can go for the car to-night, and—”’ “Oh, but I insist en going for it,” said Mr. Cranning. “I couldn’t think of letting you—” “ Hello, long distance,” Budlong grunt- ed. “I want the Zenith Garage at Sims Corners, Connecticut. I want to talk to the proprietor.” Then he waited patiently, and James pondered afresh and with great speed, Since there was no such place as Sims Cor- ners, it could not well contain a Zenith Garage. Shortly, the courteous lady oper- ator would present these facts for Bud- long’s consideration, and then—”’ “Now, old man!” James protested. “You hang up that receiver, and let me attend tc that car. No, I won’t even think of having you go to all that trouble when the blame’s all mine. Hang her up, Fred.” “Hello!” barked Mr. Budlong, instead of complying. ‘All right.” And he smiled at the somewhat startled James, and added: ‘“ That’s good service, Jim; that was a quick connection, wasn’t it? I— Hello! Zenith Garage?’’ “ That’s right!” a voice scraped out, all too plainly. ‘At Sims Corners?” “Sure thing!” said the voice. can I do for you?” Mr. Budlong cleared his throat and set; tled down. “You have a car of mine in your shop being fixed. She broke down to-day, and you towed her in. I want to know—” ‘“ What?” said the voice. ‘““T say you have a—” ‘“T heard you the first time. You’ve got the wrong place, mister. We haven’t taken in a repair job in three weeks.” ‘* What’s that?” ‘ Ain’t lifted a wrench in all that time— nope. My man broke his leg and I got my hand mashed in a—” “Wait!” cried James Cranning, and he bounced from his chair, laughing very boisterously, and hurried to Mr. Budlong’s side. “ You're talking to the wrong town, Fred. I’ve got it at last—Grimm’s Cor- ners!” ‘But this man—” “ What 6A (€() mile