The Argosy, October 1906 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

- + ON THE SPUR OF THE. MOMENT. 413 rs shrank away from the wretched object ‘beside him, as though he could’gain con- tamination from his very physical touch. The same sentiment of .repugnance affected him, when he finally “entered the bare, scrubbed reception-room of the refuge they had sought, and his nostrils were assailed by. the unmistakable institu- tional smell of the place. * “Can a man ever cleanse himself from the tdint of having, spent even a single night here?” he asked himself __fas- tidiously.. ‘‘ Will not* the -fact that he “has accepted charity, be hke a corroding sore in his memory, ever eating “deeper and deeper until it has poisoned his en- - “tire nature?” so he.shut:-his teeth, and resolved to see -the. “experience - through. “Carefully coached by his mentor, ‘he was able suc- cessfully topass the rather searching ex- amination, and then the man” in charge informed him that‘he would have to take _ a bath and submit: his clothes to’ a thor- ough. fumigation. Horace: flushed a. little “at the curt tone -of command; but quietly assented, and sit was not until he sawsthe accommoda- ~ ‘tions provided that he stubbornly balked. “Thére’ was a single, battered tin. tub, half-full of soapy water left there by ts latest occupant, and his guide* remarked ~ that this would have to serve him, as the * pipes were out of order, and they could - not be filling up the tub with buckets for every newcomer. ~““ You expect me to Bathe in that?” questioned Horace incredulously, his dis- gust becoming all the’ stronger as the - recollection flashed over him of the spot- 'less- white bath-room’ at the Hamble- tonian in which he had taken his “tub” that morning. “‘ Thank you,’ I think I prefer to do without_a bath to-night.” “Not much, you won't,” retorted the other roughly. “It’s one of the regula- ~ dions here, and you'll’ keep it. Come, = dent pretend any more of this squeam- © ‘ighness; but jerk off those duds of yours, and pile in. told; you need it ‘all right si the man added, with a -grin Horace made a swift Section: “Not for me,” he«announced, and settee surprised custodian. could say a word or raise a hand to prevent him, % I'll bet, if the truth were ~~ he turned on his heel and quickly left the house. The free air of heave and the knowl- edge that he was once again his own master restored him wonderfully, and he-no longer felt any lassittide or weari- ness as be turned his face northward. Block -after block he strode along briskly, and almost before he knew it he was once- more standing outside the gor- geous portal of the Hambletonian. was there any uncertainty or hesitation in.his manner, for the~purpose in- his: - mind’ was well-defined and clearly settled upon. +, Entering as though he owned the place -\ he walked: directly up to the desk and Nevertheless; he: was in for it. now;: briskly inquired if-he could have. the same room he had occupied the night be+ fore.~ ‘Oh, yes, Mr. Clarkson,’’ the clerk deferentially. responded removed yet ; you will-find ‘them there all ready for you. Returned sooner than you expected, eh?” "Ves, confessed Horace, without, however, cracking a smile ; ba ‘a ‘good deal sooner.” = ~ He went at once to his quarters. and drew the dainty porcelain tub full of water. Then, “as he lay*lJuxuriating in the warm, pellucid depths,-he allowed himself to~philosophize. “T suppose it is bad ethics,” he admit- ted; “yet, sttangely enough, I feel vastly more self-respect now that I am travel- ing on false pretenses than when I honestly made known my true positior and asked for the charity I so grievously needed... - “And I will pay this hotel,” he as- serted emphatically. travagant of course for me to stop here under my present circumstances; but I ~@an carry away enough things out of my bag in the morning to raise the sum - nécessary to settle with them.” Still, even after he was tucked up-im bed, he went on ruminating on the Casuistry of the question involved, until ‘at length a thought came which so tickled him that he had to sit up to get. his laugh out. » “Tl wager,” he chuckled mirthfully, ‘that I wouldn’t stay here long if they knew my real business. This is proba- —— omicbooks.-co Norse “Tn fact, I »don’t think your things have been even > “Tt is foolishly ex-