The Argosy, August 1914 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

NOBODY LOVES A LOSER. 5 One course, and only one, suggested itself. He spat out the torn frag- ments of his dry smoke and started another. That also had been nearly consumed when his office door was flung wide without preliminaries and Jack Garrett, entering, dropped into the visitor’s chair. An air of recklessness was plain in his carriage. He crossed his legs, eased himself back, and flung Levine a careless, unsmiling': “How are you, Sam? you wanted to see me.” They said CHAPTER II. RUPTURED RELATIONS. InstEAD of replying immediately, Levine subjected his visitor to a long scrutiny. Jack Garrett in street clothes re- vealed himself as a handsome, curly- headed youth of twefity-three, careful as to his attire. He was of the lean- flanked, square - shouldered, classic type. His clean-cut features were just now heavy with a hint of sullenness. The only visible reminder of his late encounter was a slightly swelled ear, although the manner in which he ad- justed himself to his seat suggested hidden bruises. He returned his manager's gaze with a defiant stare, at length break- ing out with: “Well, what about it? Mac said you wanted to see me. What’s up?” “1 told him to,” said Levine curtly. He was carrying a check-rein on his temper. “ What’s the matter that you lost to-night?” “Well, what of it?” came the swift reply. “ You don’t expect a fellow to win every fight, do you? Who ever did?” But that Levine had taken care that his wrath should burn to ashes before this interview, which he foresaw would prove as distasteful to him as to the fighter, he would have been tempted to make heated response to this sally. Its manner was outspoken challenge. With marvelous forbearance he said: “ Should wé be talking ancient his- tories? I sent for you to say that you lost to-night, and you had no right to lose.” The Navigator squared his shoul- ders angrily. ‘What do you mean by that?” he demanded. ‘ What do you mean by saying I had no right to lose?” “What do I mean?” Levine re- peated. “ Should I mean something I am afraid to say? If you were the manager and the backer and there were no bets, it might be you would have the right to lose. But the busi- ness 1s not like that. It isn’t like you were winning or losing for yourself only. Look at me. I lose it, five thou- sand dollars to-night. Is that a joke, T ask you?” ‘When it comes to that I’m not a heavy winner myself,” the Navigator stated. “TI know you ain’t, Jack,” said Le- vine quietly. Jack Garrett’s none too even tem- per, jarred by the evening’s experi- ence, flared up beyond reason. “You know I ain’t?” he mocked. “Of course you know I ain’t. You know me too well to think [d sell you out—or is that what you called me in here for? To accuse me?” “Nothing of such a sort,’ Levine answered with perfect coolness. “ Let us talk lke gentlemen. I said you had no right to lose to-night, and again I Syst. ‘Fourteen months I have managed you. When you left the navy I showed you how to make more money in a night than you earned.there in a year. Is that true?” “T wasn’t the only one to make money out of our contract,” Garrett returned sulkily. “ Should you be? Would I for my health hunt up a sailor from the navy and spend money and time? JI ama business man.” CORMiClooolkX< (C@