The Argosy, October 1906 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

418 oe eS = oe ~ It humbled his pride a ‘bit i be at the “ _beck and catl of so exacting a master. E But, then, there was the ten dollars a ee week and his living expenses. -A man ne can bury pride, es his duties are z respectable. — eS At least, Clay determined to bury his. 2 _ And it was not so hard to please Mr. - Borrow in most matters. ai ee He helped him first with his corre- ae spondence. Then he read the newspaper to him, put his library in order while the = old gentleman wrote some personal let- ters, went to luncheon with him, and “finally saw him off to make calls for the afternoon. Having now two or three hos to him- self, Clay hurried down to Brent’s lodg- ‘ings, and there he arrived just. in time’ to view an upheaval in Mrs. Cushing’s | household, the storm-center of which was =>: _ his frend Brent. | A girl with a dirty apron—the signal- flag of the ordinary lodging-house slavey ane —opened the door for Clay; but it pS was unnecessary for him to ask for Brent. His voice resounded _from : above: “Now, my dear Mrs. Cushing “Don’t ye do it, Mr. Brent!” ex- claimed the high- pitched voice of the = landlady. “I’m obderate—obderate, I - say. + It’s got ter come to an end right here.”’ ‘There was a dignified pathos in Brent’s tone that, had Clay. not known the fellow so well, would have impressed hin < “Vou grieve me, Mrs. Cushing—you really do,” the young man said. “ To think that I should have paid you two weeks’ rent so recently. = ‘“T know it! I know it!” broke in the landlady, all in a flutter. “ But as my husband says: ‘No knowing when he’ll - come so near not owin’ you anything again, an’ it’s so, Mr. Brent. You know it.” ““My dear Mrs. Cush ‘“Now don’t ye!” exclaimed the good woman, almost in tears. ‘“ You ain’t got no baggage. You can go right out now. And you ain’t stone-broke—that I'll be bound.” ‘“Such ingratitude! ’’ said Brent, with a sigh, coming down into the second- floor hall. +9 > ; - 3 we ee’ ee —" _ +. ‘ = : . ee ae oe =, “ > Gites - 3S - — . al — < + = Tee’ . SR E pe Rg : Y: - - ~~ <a Se a - nd ae s “= > cae - - ae x “ ae _ pe SSP me 7 ~ - $ -~ =~ ” aan c zo a x ree ASS x : S Oh, come on, old man!? = Chay: ‘Site up from below. “ oe go home with = 2s me.’ = * 2 There | ” cried Mrs. Cushing, with. = plain relief. ‘‘You’ve got a home offered = ye, Mr. Brent. ’Tain’t as though you was bein’ put out on the sidewalk.” “But to think that after my having § advertised your lodgings for all these months—for you to ask me to go! It is too, too much! ”’ : He came down ie remaining flight, shaking his head sadly, carrying — his only ~ luggage, a plethoric music-roll, in one hand, while the landlady watched from ; over the banisters. “ Susan,” he said to the giggling maid, still with great solemnity, “you are nota _ pretty girl, but you have a good heart.” “IT hope so, Mr. Brent,” she returned. ~- ~ I—Im sorry you're going,” she added In awhisper, = —* Brent’s hand touched_ hers tetore he — followed Clay out of the house. The latter looked back and saw the girl look- = ing at what Brent had left i in her palm— a silver dollar! © “Oh, you utterly preposterous and im- practicable ass!” groaned Hopworthy. ‘“ Being! sent away from your lodgings because you cannot pay for them, yet tipping the slavey a dollar.” “Well, really,’ Brent returned, un- abashed, “the creature had been very ac- commodating to me. I couldn't do less, could I?” | Clay insisted on Brent’s going to Mrs. Lemmon’s with him. “I sha’n’t be able to sleep there, like — enough, for Mr. Borrow will want me . near him. But you can take my place ” and Mrs. L. won't care, of course, who pays for the room.’ = “Ye-es. But something’s got to turn up for me pretty soon, old man, or J won't be able to pay her for ae " observed Brent. ——- “Tm glad to. hear you" say that. aio shows sense. That brings me to the point where I can talk straight to you.” ie = it’s going to be something unpleasant,” Brent groaned. : “NG. ies about money matters.” g Shae “Good Lord! wages mone Map leas | ‘ 2 ‘Don’ t be ridiculous. Are you satis- = — ~ fied that I should financier this firm?” ee comicbooks c