Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

THE BULLY OF her get off the hook before it’s too late. Always remember there are all sorts of fish in the sea.” “It’s a sound idea,” Teddy agreed. “T’m glad we feel the same way about it,” Mr. Juveen went on. “ Because that - point of view is absolutely necessary for the new job I’ve got for you. Banton is going out, Teddy, and you are going in!” The exclamation point was Mr. Juveen’s. He made the statement as if it were excit- ing, important news. And it was. Mr.—Bill—Banton was Teddy Armbis- ter’s immediate superior; P.A.E. and I. export department, and Ted- dy was by way of being his assistant, al- though he was actually handling half the work of the department, if not more. His title was Assistant Export Manager. Having made his announcement, Mr. Juveen settled back in his chair, clasped his pudgy little hands behind his head and looked at Teddy Armbister with the same expression employed by the celebrated cat that swallowed a canary. “But, Great Scot—” Teddy began. “No ifs, buts or ands about it,” Mr. Ju- veen jovially stopped him. ‘I expected you’d be surprised. I expected it would take your breath away. It’s a big job, Ted. It’s right next door to mine. I’m going to start you off at fifteen thousand a year. That means you can live on a scale much wider than the one you’re liv- ing on now. You'll have a practically un- limited drawing account, too, of course.’ Teddy Armbister was not receiving the news with perceptible enthusiasm. Three vertical grooves had come into being be- tween his fine blue eyes, and his brows were roughed up. They were thick, heavy brows and when Teddy roughed them up in this fashion they resembled the backs of two angry kittens. “But what’s going to become of Bill?” he wanted to know. “Tm giving Bill the Nicaragua office,” Mr. Juveen told him. ‘“ Things need snap- ping up down there, and Bill’s just the man for it.” Teddy Armbister continued to frown. Mr. Juveen, was in so many words, giving Bill Banton the gate. was head of the ~ BISCAYNE BAY. 508 When Mr. Juveen wanted to get rid of a piece of old timber, he relegated him to ene of the unimportant Central American offices. It was equivalent to being pen- sioned—but worse. In those stagnant little counthee the victim soon drank himself beyond Mr. Ju- veen’s further fatherly consideration. Teddy Armbister slowly shook his head and ‘I don’t like it,” he said. Mr. Juveen withdrew his hands from the back of his head and sat up straight with a stare. “Why don’t you like it?” he snapped. “In the first place,” Teddy answered, “that job has killed off every man, so far as I know, who ever held it. Cartwright, when last heard from, was beachcombing down around Papeete or Tutuila. Ander- son is lying in a drunkard’s grave in Pdn- ama. Murray, out in Hong Kong, has be- come one of China’s leading opium smok- ers. There’s too much drinking connected with that job, Mr. Juveen. Bill Banton has drunk himself into a state of stupidity. He’s drink goofy! You’re sending him down to Nicaragua to get him out of the Way.” Mr. Juveen’s eyes had lost their starry twinkle and had acquired the surface hard- - ness, say, of agate, but his manner was still affable when he spoke. “The trouble with each and every one of those men, Teddy, was that they lacked the strength of character that that job calls for. I’ve been trying for years to find the right man for that job and—I think I’ve found him in you.” “That job,” Teddy persisted, stubborn- ly, “is a drinking job. These South Amer- ican customers come up here and they want a wild time. It’s the export manager’s job to see they find it—wine, women and night clubs.” “You’ve got strength of character to get away with it.” “J have now,” Teddy Armbister ad- mitted, “ but my strength of character goes A. W.OL. after the third drink. Tye got a suggestion to make, Mr. Juveen. Put Warner in that job and give me Warner’s.” Warner was the manager of the import department. GoOmic ,OOKS cor