Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 5, 1928 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

604 He did not look like the same man who had arrived in Richville on No. 1 that morning and fainted in the sta- tion. Not only had he gained in weight and appearance, but off up in the woods he did not shave regularly, and at Johnny’s suggestion he had bought a new outfit of clothes more appropriate to his new mode of life. He wore a dark woolen shirt, coarse heavy trousers that buttoned tight about his legs below the knees, and high leather boots. It gave him a more rugged appearance than more refined apparel could have imparted. “ But I thought you liked roughing it,” Johnny reminded him. Allister shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, it was all right at first. It was different than anything I had ever experienced, and it was rather fun. But there’s no novelty to it any more— just the same old routine, morning, noon and night.” “How would you like to hang around down at the station with me? It would be something of a diversion and maybe I could teach you what Iit- tle I know about railroading.” * I'd like it,” said Allister. ‘I can understand now the drudgery of house- wives in being tied down inside four walls twenty-four hours a day. It’s no fun, P’ll tell you.” “ But you're not tied down,” John- ny objected. “It only takes a fraction of your time to do the work around here, and you’ve got the horse to take you anywhere you want to go, any time.” “You don’t get the idea,” said Al- lister. “ It’s no fun gallivanting around just because you don’t want to stand still. People don’t generally do things without a reason. If they haven’t a logical reason for doing a thing they generally delude themselves into think- ing they have. But I’ve got no earthly reason for even living. | “You know, Johnny, a fellow likes to think he’s necessary to some one or something. If it isn’t a wife and fam- ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ily, he at least wants to believe that he’s indispensable to whatever else he is most interested in. I’m interested in nothing, and nobody needs me.” Johnny was almost as despondent as his companion. He felt he had lost all the ground he had gained. He con- cluded that the psychological time had come to feel Allister out concerning the Spruce Mountain Sanatorium and give the man something to think about. Thereafter their work at the cabin was divided equally, and before they left in the mornings they would pack for themselves a lunch to be eaten at noon, and would drive down to the vil- lage in the cutter. | Allister exhibited an intelligent in- terest in the routine of the office and showed considerable business sense in various questions he asked concerning the operation of the road. He even learned to send and receive messages by telegraph, under Johnny’s guidance. Because of this slight enthusiasm of Allister’s, Johnny opened up the dis- cussion of his pet ambition by talking about the condition of the road. Sitting comfortably in the office, they would argue. No matter what ideas Johnny advanced, Allister would oppose them. It might have appeared to a casual observer that he was merely contrary. But as a matter of fact Johnny was a little prejudiced because of his local interest, whereas Allister pointed out his fallacies with logical and impartial observations. Gradually the subject of their argu- ments broadened until they were dis- cussing the entire region. Whether or not Johnny ever admitted the good judgment of Allister’s contentions, he at least realized that they were keeping the man’s mind off his troubles. Johnny finally got down to brass tacks. “The only thing,” he said, “ that will save this railroad is some kind of an institution chat will bring in money from the outside and give employment EOPMICLOOOKS (F@)