Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

BEWARE OF day, did genuine credit to the Kratz estab- lisiment; yet, one after the other, Thomas passed them by with the briefest consider- ation, until Kratz shrugged his shoulders and said: “T dume, Mr. Hemming. Them are all popular suits. What’s wrong with em?” “No punch—they’re old stuff,” said Themas, and wandered on. “How about one of these here swell Cavalier costumes, then, with high boots’ and pink tights and’ a plumed hat and—” “ Rotten!” said Thomas. “I’ve got to have something r Kratz, elderly, and by nature a sour, taciturn person, ceased his efforts and took to folding up costumes. Thomas opened a closet, which contained ladies garments exclusively, and closed it again. There was a big pasteboard box on the farther shelf; he lifted the lid and gazed for a moment, to turn then with a delighted grin. “This is it, Kratz!’ he said briefly. “ Wrap this one up for me.” . “ Which one?” “ The armor!”’ “You couldn’t have that.” “ Why not?” “ It’s rented already,” Kratz said briefly. - “ Now, give a look at this Continental Sol- dier outfit, Mr. Henmning,. and—”’ “Too modern!” Thomas chuckled. “ This tin suit of clothes is the one I’m ‘ing this evening.” . “¥ told you, Mr. Henning— “TI know, Kratz, but it didn’t get over,” Themas said blithely. “I’m wise, you know. You're saving this for some old bird who won’t bring it back fall of dents. “ That’s all right. Fl! guarantee to re- turn it in perfect condition. Tl leave a deposit on it if you like. Wrap it up.” “No, but this is on the level,” Kratz said earnestly. “This suit was rented more than a week ago, and the party’s been out of town and he ain’t called for it yet. He said he mightn’t send for it till late this afternoon.” ‘“‘ Kratz, you ought to have a bazaar somewhere in the Orient,” Thomas sighed. “‘ What does it rent for?” “ Five dollars, but that ain’t the point. [= 3? -THE BRIDE. 343 Yes, it is. I'l give you ten. De it up. ‘This ‘time he reached for the box of armor and not without a little effort, laid it on the table before Mr. K fatz, where it settled with divers cheery clankings from within. The costumer merely shook his head. “No, Mr. Henning, that ain’t the point,” he said, rather sadly. “The party that engaged this suit is a prominent and wealthy young fellow, and he brings me a lot of business, first and last. I couldn’t take no chances of offending him. I prom- ised to keep that suit till he catled for it.” Thomas extracted a ten dollar bill from his wallet, and one of his cards as well. On the latter he scribbled for a moment; then he extended. both of them to the cos- tumer. ‘‘ Now, listen, Kratz,” he said patiently. ‘“] want that armor and I’m going to take it with me, see? I’m the only man in the world who'd go after a masquerade costume — as late as this, anyway; all the rest of the town’s dressing by this time, and if yotir man hasn’t sent for his tinware, it means “that he isn’t back and that he isn’t coming back in time for the ball. Is-he?” The costemer eyed the banknote sadly. “T couldn’t say. This young feller—” “You’ve got his five dollars. He'll ; probably make you hand it back, anyway. Why, then, let a perfectly good costume stay here in its box all evening, when it might as well be earning you ten—and possibly fifteen—dollars? “Now, there’s a card with my Rome telephone number on it. If by aay chance your man should come back, telephone me and I won’t dress and you can send your boy up with any old suit and I'll hand back your armor and wear it instead. Get me?” “ This young feller—” “* Does it go or doesn’t it?” Thomas in- quired. | Kratz blinked his hard eyes and cleared’ his throat. ‘Listen, Mr. Henning,” said he. “If I rent you this suit, and this young feller comes back and wants it, I get te suit back without no trouble?” “* Absolutely! ” é Original froma SOHMCE — NOO CO© mm = m 1\ \