The Argosy, April 1912 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

70 “Come, Oliver,” urged Preston. “ Be- tween friends, you know. If I am not the first to hear the good news I shall feel hurt.” “Well”—Hazard weighed his words— “whenever I have anything to tell, if I ever have, you'll be the first to hear it, Hugo, but there’s nothing doing now.” “Oh, cut it out!” was Preston’s dis- gusted rejoinder. “That won’t go down with me.” — “Tt’s a fact, just the same. Now, look here, Preston, I’ll tell you just where I stand. I love the girl, and I think she cares a lot for me, but I’m not sure.” “Well, why don’t you ask her outright?” Hazard regarded his friend soberly. “Tl tell you why,” he said. “I have not got my business in just the right shape yet. The prospect looks good—things will come my way. But you know a new busi- ness is an uphill fight. Capital comes in small doses, and so we have to go along on a piker basis instead of letting fly with both barrels all the time. “Miss Hinkle has been accustomed to an easy life, and when she marries me, if she ever does, I want her to go on in the same way.” “That’s all very fine,” scoffed Preston, “but no sensible girl expects to begin where her father left off.”’ “Of course not.”” Hazard shook his fin- ger earnestly. ‘‘ Nevertheless that is theory, partly. I want to present facts to Miss Hinkle before I definitely ask her to marry.” “Well, you know best.’”’ And Preston changed the subject. “Money, money, money!” he said bitterly. “It’s a queer world. ‘Those who have it have millions more than they really need, and those who haven’t it have not half as much as a beggar wants.” “That’s right,” agreed Hazard. “I tell you, Hugo, the only way to get along rapid- ly in this world is to go out with a club, knock down somebody who has money, and take it away from him.” Preston flushed. “Tm game,” he said quietly. anything else.” “Well, I’m not,” smiled Oliver. “Of course I was only joking. But at the same time I beg leave to tell you there’s nothing the matter with me that money won’t cure.” “That’s the way with every one,” was the gloomy reply. Hazard quickened his steps, having in- “That or THE ARGOSY. stinctively felt for his watch to learn the time, and found it missing. Preston relinquished his friend’s arm at the corner and turned off in another direc- tion. “Good-by, Oliver,” he said. see you for some time.” Hazard looked up. “What’s the matter?” he asked. “Oh, nothing,” replied Preston. “ But I say, Oliver, you know what gossip is. If you ever hear anything bad about me, keep your own opinion until you get an insight of the thing from me personally, will you?” Hazard looked at Preston strangely. “Are you crazy?” he asked. “ You talk like an idiot.” Preston laughed. “Oh, it’s all right. I’m feeling a bit out of sorts thig morning. Therefore, don’t mind me.” “All right. on his way. He lost no time in reaching the watch- maker’s shop. He had just entered and closed the door when the newspaper reporter who had accosted him a little while before passed in front of the place in company with a box-built man with close-cropped mustache and heavy-soled shoes. “He was going right along here,” the re- porter was saying, “and seemed in a great hurry. I spoke to him and he jumped as though he had been shot, and I could see he did not recall me.” “Which way was he going?” asked the man. : “Right up this way.” “That leads toward the hotel. Well, we'll follow along. One good thing, we know he’s still in the city. If you’re sure it’s Hazard you saw.” “Sure it’s Hazard!” The reporter sniffed. “What I’m not sure of, Bill, I keep my mouth shut about. That’s the way we hold our jobs in this newspaper game.” “Well, if you say so,” rejoined the other. “Tt’s funny, though, that nobody else has seen him.” “That may be,” asserted the reporter, “but I saw him all right. I don’t care if no one else in the world saw him. What my eyes tell me is good enough for me.” “ All right. Find him again, and show him to me,” said the man shortly. Thus the two hurried along the street, while Hazard, all good humor now, ad- “T may not 99 So long,” and Hazard was dressed the jeweler with a broad smile. cComicloool