The Argosy, Vol. 61, No. 4 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

642 They argued and speculated concern- ing the coming election for some time, and, just before leaving, the friend chanced to remark: ““IT saw your old friend Pierce this morning.” Hicks pricked up his ears, and yet pre- tended to be wholly uninterested. “He says he’s having an awful time getting a tenant for the summer; that he’s got to go out into the country imme- diately after the reelection, and he’ll probably have to leave the house vacant. He’s very much worried about it. You know, we had so many burglaries in vacant houses last summer, and then there’s the rent to be considered.” ‘“Why don’t he stay at home?” sug- gested Hicks calmly. ‘Well, he’s got a little hope. Said a fellow was coming out to look at the house to-morrow afternoon, and he thought he might land him, although he’s hard to suit, I guess, and all he likes about Pierce’s house is the view.” Hicks jumped from his chair the mo- ment the other had gone. ‘The conver- sation had given him the glimmering of an idea. ‘All he likes is the view, and the view is across my yard,” said Hicks, stamping up and down the office in thought, his hands clasped behind his back. ‘The idea grew and became more lumi- nous. ‘By gad!” he cried suddenly. do it.” He paced the floor for some minutes more; then stopped, pulled at his mus- tache, and mused: “Bertha will think it isn’t right. She’ll say I just did it for spite. Well, that’s what I’m going to do it for. I don’t care who knows. It’s to be for spite. I’ll make no bones about admit- ting it.” With the idea firmly in mind, he rushed to the telephone and called up the local lumber dealer at Oak Forest. “He won’t rent that house all sum- mer, or any summer, if I can help it,” muttered Hicks, as he waited impatient- ly for the connection. ‘Hallo—that you, Jones?” he asked when at last a voice replied. “Yes. What is it?” Hicks dropped his voice and spoke 6é I'll THE ARGOSY. very distinctly. He talked for two full minutes, then broke off with: ‘Got that all right? Remember, it’s a rush order. I’ve got to be sure of it. Get half of the stuff at my house before eight o’clock to-night, or you lose the job.” ““T’ll do it, but it will rush me.” Hicks turned away from the instru- ment with a satisfied grin. He picked up the telephone directory a moment later and began searching through it. “Guess he’s the -best carpenter in town,’ mused Hicks as_ his finger stopped at a familiar name. He called the number, and was soon in conversation with Oak Forest again. “Tl be on the job with all my men at one o'clock to-morrow afternoon. That’s the earliest minute I can get tn it,’ was the final answer he received. “Remember, time is important,’ said Hicks. “* Not later than one o’clock, or you lose the order. The lumber will all be there, and everything in readiness.” Hicks was so pleased over this new idea that he could not work that after- noon. He dawdled along and put in his time, but did nothing in particular. At five o’clock he took the train for home. ‘To his great surprise, Pierce was in the same car, and seemed to be much worried about something. “Maybe some of the children got the measles, and his wife called him up on the phone to come home early,” Hicks thought to himself as he -watched the anxious face of his neighbor. It was not until half an hour later that Hicks understood the worried look and pieced out the story of Pierce’s early home-coming. For, as Hicks hurried up his walk, he saw a lumber wagon just departing, and on the party-line were two loads of fence posts, sixteen feet high, and one load of long stringers. Then he smiled as he realized that Mrs. Pierce must have seen the delivery from her window and called up her husband to come home. at once, divining what was in Hicks’s mind. He turned on the top step and caught a glimpse of Pierce looking toward the lumber. ‘Then he glanced up the road and saw another lumber wagon ap- proaching his residence with a load of sixteen-foot fencing. EO OO Cc (©