Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

DEADWOOD. 063 him with a fund of practical psychology based on a profound. if circumscribed knowledge of human nature—in and around Pepperill. With characteristic en- ergy, no sooner did the great idea come into being than he proceeded to put it in operation. He leaned forward, a broad, e hand on each knee. | “Listen!” he began abruptly, For five minutes he talked in fluent, jerky idioms, interrupted from time to time by faint gasps or shocked protests from one or another of the Pritchett girls. When he had finished, the two looked uncertainly at each other. Letty’s tears had dried. A decided flush made Miss Hetty’s thin face almost pretty. She was the first to speak. “Do you really mean he is to be—we are to—that is—” “He’s dead!” Dr. Knapp barked. “You know how to act. You've been in enough houses of mourning. Just think of Elmer—and treat him—as if he was in the Great Beyond—wherever that is! If he is obstinate, remember nothing in the world will do him so much good as to fast for a few days. I, sha’n’t come near you—no use to send—for three days. If he’s still holding out then, we'll try something else. But it’s my guess he won’t be!” The cheery jingle of the doctor’s depart- ing sleigh-bells was still audible when the Pritchett sisters went into executive session with Nancy Hines, their hired help, a gaunt, gray haired woman of a very even temper—since: she was always grouchy. For the past few months her grouchiness had been directed against brother Elmer, and incidentally against the sisters who let themselves be buncoed by him. With all her shrewdish temper, she adored them, tyrannized over them, and during the thirty years of her employment always sat with them at table, and in their square box pew on the Sabbath. She came of worthy Pepperill stock, and lost no caste whatever by her humble occupation. Laughter was rare with her, but a harsh cackle of delight broke from her lips when, after wiping her red, bony hands upon her apron, she heard the plan Dr. Knapp had induced the two spinsters to adopt. They a“ were by no means devoid of a sort of dry, subtle humor peculiar to the temote coun- tryside; and joined in a discreet, ladylike way in Nancy’s rude mirth. The sounds penetrated to the guest chamber above, where the chief character in the impending play reposed in fat content, digesting a bountiful dinner while the westering sun embraced him with warmly comforting arms. He opened his heavy eyes, and decided that it was time for an afternoon smoke. Knocking out the dottle from his black pipe upon the glossy mahogany surface of the little table beside him, he sucked at the worn stem, and found it plugged. There was a broom in the room, but it stood primly aloof in the far corner, by the bureau; and Elmer had not,. unaided, risen from bed for close on three months now. Were he to cdll out, one or the other of his old sisters would hurry up-stairs at once, and — with veiled disapproval — pluck a stiff straw from the broom, so that he could clean his foul pipe. He knew, this well enough—had often called upon them for matters as trivial; yet he hesitated. His hearing was excellent. He could not make out what they were talking about, but he could identify the laughter of all three. There was the genteel indul- gence of Hetty, the lighter, more frivolous, but equally discreet note of Letty. Above them rose the raucous tones of the odious Nancy Hines, whom he detested, and who detested him. She refused not only to en- ter his room on any pretext whatever, but even to cook any dish exclusively for him. She could not decline to make bread and bake meats a portion of which—an undue portion—found its way to his stomach, but she could and did refuse to prepare beef tea, dropped eggs, milk shakes, and other delicacies designed for him alone. Elmer felt a certain satisfaction in the Jaughter which came to his ears from be- low. Like most selfish people, he greatly preferred to have those about him content- ed, because it made things smoother for him. He would not take the trouble to make others happy, but was rather glad when some one else did. Satisfied that all the occupants of the house were accounted Original froma : Dy, sy DOOK CO