Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

A472 had given him Esther’s address. She went down to the parlor at once. ‘Who sent you here?” He took her hand, then motioned for her to sit. . Ma Frank.” | ‘ Well, it’s all right—have you a parlor?” he said, sitting as she did. “ Oh, no, I have a darling little room, though.’ “You must have a parlor if I am ‘to have charge of your education. I couldn’t visit you in your bedroom,” ‘Oh, Philip, I can’t afford it. fourteen- dollar room now. They let me have it for ten dollars. I really can’t afford that; but Ma owes me over thirty, and—” \ “ Here’s a week’s advance salary that I, as your manager, demanded this morning.” He handed her five new twenty-dollar bills. “Philip! I can’t take it.” She drew back, appalled. “Why not?” | ““T’ve made up my mind—”’ ‘* Be careful. Don’t make up your mind to things youll have to go back on. It’s bad for your character.” He still held out the money to her. cc But—” “If you were to play a part to-night,” he interrupted, ‘‘ you wouldn’t hesitate to ask for an advance, if you needed it, would you?” cs No.”’ ‘““Same thing—you’re going to pose— play a silent part this afternoon. I made an appointment at two-thirty. That will give you time to do a little shopping. Get your hat on.” He pressed the bills into her hand. ‘ You'll need a new spring suit and maybe one or two other things. Put on that little new blue frock. You look quite nice in it.” “IT don’t want to.” She rose to go. “You needn’t, after to-day.” He smiled down at her. Esther returned in ten minutes, and they walked over to an exclusive shop on Fifth Avenue. No sleep came that same night to Jim Barnes. He had that day received a com- munication from Sam, in which was a letter from Esther that the cow-man had for once I have.a | ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. received on time. Barnes read Esther’s let- ter first—as a man starving: SAM: You seem to be a sort of mother, father, sister, brother to me. When I am in trouble of any sort I always want to write to you. I don’t believe a woman living can keep go- ing without somebody to care if she is hurt. Oh, Sam, you know how I always believed in God and doing right—well, I don't any more. I’ve gone through hell, Sam, to keep good as I understand goodness; then the only man I ever loved flung me off like a rag be- cause somebody said in his presence I was no good! That’s how I know there is no God! Don’t you see, it might better have been true? I couldn’t have lost any more than I have lost, and I might have had an easier time, and decent food and clothes all this while. Well, I’ve got the name now. I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain by living up to my reputation, so good-by to the Esther Bowles you have known. I’m done for! Unless—well, I wrote him a letter night be- fore last. Maybe—no, nothing good is for me, but what I snatch. I’m not going to the gutter—I’m pretty close to that now; but I’m going to climb the ladder of success. No God has ever bothered about me one way or another, so I guess I’ve nothing to fear from Him. And even if there is a God, He can’t do any worse by me than He has already. We are going into New York Saturday night. - I’ll write you when [get settled. Maybe you won't care to hear from me any more; but I-want you to know that I shall always bless God for giving me one real friend. I pray Him to make my man sec the truth and— Oh, you see I haven’t really given up God! It seems as if I can’t, exactly. Even when my brain tells me there can’t be a God, I know there is! Sam, do you ever pray? Always your little friend, 4 ESTHER. With her letter Sam had sent a line in his painful scrawl that said: Ef I allowed you was the man I'd kill you quicker ’n I would a snake. I don’t allow you air. I’m goin’ to take a trip east fur the pleasure of killin’ a skunk. I’m a sendin’ you her letter and this note so es ef you be him you'll be on your guard. I never shoot when @ man’s back is turned. Sam TUTTLE. And Barnes knew no more of Esther’s whereabouts than did Sam. He got up and stood still, évery muscle tense. ECoOnniclboooks (C(O)