The Argosy, December 1905 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

NO WAY OUT. wey out as usual, walked into the jew- eler’s office with a bold front. The same gray-haired clerk he- had encountered the first time was seated at his desk working busily at his books. The green baize door which led to Meyer’s private office was closed. : “Mr. Meyer in?” yelled Arthur, re- membering the man’s infirmity. “ Yes, sir,” answered the clerk, “ he’s in his private office.” “Tell him that Mr. Ladd wants to see him,” yelled Arthur in the man’s ear. “Go and knock on that door,” said the clerk. Arthur went to the green baize door and knocked for admittance. ‘““Come in,” cried the voice of the jeweler, and Arthur turned the handle and entered, cane in hand. “ Ah, Mr. Ladd!” said Meyer coldly, “JT hope you have come to settle your indebtedness.” “ Not exactly, I am ashamed to say, Mr. Meyer,’ answered Arthur humbly. “| regret that I find myself a little short of cash just now. In a week or so I hope to be all right again, and then [ will pay you every cent I owe, and keep on paying my instalments regularly.” The jeweler rose from his seat, came over to where Arthur stood, and shook his fist in the young man’s face. “You swindler!” he cried. “ You common thief! That kind of talk won’t do, do you anderstand me? You pay every cent of the thirty dollars before this office closes to-night or you take the consequences.” “ But I tell you I haven’t any money,” expostulated Arthur. “ You draw a salary every week,” said the jeweler sternly. “ What do you do with it?” “YT hardly make enough to support me,” answered Arthur bitterly. “ I was a fool to enter into this contract with you.” ~ © Would to God that you hadn’t,” said the jeweler with equal bitterness. “I can see myself losing nearly five hun- dred dollars through being weak enough to transact business with you. But it shall not be, I warn you. Nobody shall make a fool of Jacob Meyer. You shall pay me every cent you owe me; not only 75 the overdue thirty dollars, but every cent that is coming to me on the future instalments; you shall pay cash down to me now. You have broken your agree- ment, and I will not transact business with you any longer on a credit basis. You must pay me in cash now for all your indebtedness.” “ But I tell you I haven’t any money,” said Arthur impatiently. “Then borrow it from your father- in-law to be—Mr. Adrian; he’ll loan it to you,” hissed the jeweler. “Borrow from Rosa’s father! I daren’t,’” answered Arthur, shaking his head. “ He has an aversion to young men who borrow money. No, you'll have to suggest something else, Mr. Meyer.” . “TH suggest nothing. You must find a way, yourself. I’d attach your salary, only how do I know how long you are going to hold that job of yours with your wild habits. You’ll pay me every cent you owe me by five o’clock to-night, or 2? ; “ Or what?” put in Arthur. “Or Miss Rosa Adrian will learn by to-morrow morning that the ring she wears on her little, white finger is stolen property, and that the man who gave it to her and to whom she is betrothed is a thief,” finished the jeweler. “You infernal scoundrel cried Arthur furiously. “ Did yow not prom- ise that you would keep secret———” ‘You promised, also, that you would pay me my ten dollars a week,” snapped Meyer. “ You haven’t kept your prom- ise, you cannot expect any more con- sideration from me. Pay me the money you owe me or I myself will visit your pretty sweetheart to-morrow morning and tear the ring by force, if necessary, from her finger. Of course, Mr. Adrian, your future father-in-law, will be de- hghted to learn what a frugal young man his daughter is going to marry: It will give him a whole lot of pleasure to realize that he will have a thief for a son-in-law.” He did not have a chance to say any more, for Arthur Ladd, maddened be- yond all endurance, sprang at him and seized him by the throat. There was a scuffle. Even the half { 7? COMICLOOokKS (C@