The Argosy, January 1907 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

WHEN SUSPICION STRUCK HARD. ‘read the secret of the druggist’s pros- perity. In this particular instance, leaving the prescription-counter and advancing to the center of the store, the druggist felt that something might be expected. Two men were there, strangers to Radford, and evidently of the type of trolley transient with which he was pleasantly familiar. ‘That sort usually laid in a supply of cigars and other odds and ends. In this case, the pair were even better dressed than usual, in a prosperous fash- ion wholly devoid of ostentation. ‘They chatted amiably together. Radford waited a moment and looked them over curiously. The smaller man was lean and keen of eye. His nose was sharp, and _ his chin peculiarly square. He gave one the impression of indomitable force of character,” of uprightness and_ infernal persistence. ~ There was something queerly familiar about him, too, although at the moment the druggist could not have said just what. Certainly he had never seen the man before. For the other, he was taller and heavier, and of less intellectual mien. He might have been a successful West- ern business man. He chewed _ inces- santly upon a thick black cigar, and talked in a voice of remarkable depth. He, too, was a strong man; but his strength seemed to that of the other as the bullock to the thoroughbred race- horse, “ Well, gentlemen?” l\adford’s smile was positively charm- ing. ‘Che pair turned to him. “Do this often here?” the larger in- quired with a laugh. “Oh, we try to furnish all sorts of diversions,” the druggist smiled. ‘Suppose it'll take long to get the car in motion again?” : _ “TIT hardly think so, sir. This kind of thing happens once in a while every- where. The wires have been down once or twice before, in the last year.’’ “Ah!” The exclamation came al- most raspingly from the smaller man. “That fellow’s on top of the car at last. 1 hope to goodness he hurries!” “He will,” Radford assured him. 2353 “The motormen and conductors on this iine have to be thoroughly trained elec- triclans, you know.” “Must be expensive to the company, at union prices.”’ “In one way it is, and in another way it is not,” Radford explained. ‘ You see, it saves them the cost of a repair force. The towns are a good distance apart, and such a thing as a repair- wagon would be impracticable. The cars carry tools and parts with them, and repairs are made in much less time.” Silently, the trio watched the work. The motorman was atop of the car now, laboring diligently with pincers and wires and other odds and ends. The crowd stood back and surveyed the work. Radford waited attentively. The pair smoked on in silence until he remarked gently: “Is there anything that I can do for you gentlemen? ”’ The larger turned. “ Yes, although not a great deal. We dropped in for a glass of soda, and I believe TH take some arnica along for this knee of mine. I tried to break one of your confounded paving-blocks with it when that galvanized snake chased me out of the seat.” The druggist hurried behind his marble slab and stood before the line of brilliant nickel taps. From the rear, a murmur reached him: “Trolley Tries Tricks—rats! — that won't do! Well——’ “IT believe [0 have a glass. of vanilla,’ the larger stranger remarked. “No ice-cream, you know. What shail yours be, Mr. se er—— Yes, they were chance acquaintances, Radford decided. They did not even know each other’s names. The smaller man, by the way, seemed in no particular anxiety to divulge his 4dentity. His sharp eyes ran over the list of flavors. ‘ Oh—give me an orange phosphate,” he said. For a minute or two glasses clinked and soda hissed. The two foaming drinks were set in their immaculately shining holders and Radford’s smile ap- peared once more. 7 “Now, about how much arnica shall I give you?” “Eh?” ~The larger of the strangers EORMMICLOOKS (E@)