The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOTIVE. rigorous business methods and that we must meet the note—or he’ll call it.” ‘“Oh, he will, eh—the old—” Finch broke into a volley of curses. “ He'll teach us rigorous business, will he? Well, when we get this Squires matter fixed I'll go down there and shove the money down his throat, the old hypocritical fool. Teach me rigorous business—”’ “Us,” corrected Preston. “Us! Yes!” Finch glared at his partner. ‘‘ He judges the firm by you. I'll bet you made a sorry bid to have him do the decent thing. I suppose you started by trying to borrow five dollars.” “T started all right, Finch,” replied Preston crisply. “Now cut out this abuse of your beloved partner, or I'll be tempted to get real angry, hot as it is.” - Many of Preston’s grimmest remarks were thus couched in the guise of light- ness, and Finch reverted to Renault. “Why the deuce were you so long about it?” he finally asked. ‘“ You’ve been gone more than two hours. Did it take you all that time to get thrown out of his office?’’ “Why, no,” Preston confessed. “I went to lunch at the Waldorf, and ran into Miss Hamilton.” “And you had luncheon together,” sneered Finch. ‘What did you talk about?” he asked as Preston nodded. “Look here, Finch,” Preston got up from his chair and strode up close to his partner, “that’s none of your damned business. Do you understand?” Finch leaned back in his chair and burst into laughter. “Oh,” he said, “so it’s that way. Well, my boy, go ahead. Plunge into it. I’m too busy just now to compete with you.” “What do you mean by compete?” snapped Preston. “Why, you want to marry the girl, don’t you?’’ retorted Finch. “ But if I were you I should center my attentions elsewhere. Miss Hamilton, in good time, is going to marry me. And in her heart she knows it.” 137 And even Preston felt something of a strange magnetic quality that gleamed from the other’s eyes. CHAPTER XII. TRYING TO RETRIEVE A BREAK, BEF ORE Preston could reply the tele- phone bell rang. He arose to an- swer the call and found that it was for Finch, He set the receiver down and nodded at his partner. Finch picked up the receiver and spoke In an eager voice. “Yes, this is Mr. Finch. Oh, yes, Mr, Redmond, how do you—what? I didn’t catch that—what did you say?” Preston took up a duplicate telephone which connected through on the same wire and thus caught the conversation of both parties. “Mr. Finch,’ said the voice, ‘“ we have decided after careful examination that we cannot advise our client, Mr. Squires, to take up your option.” “You have!” Finch’s voice trembled: with suppressed anger. ‘‘ Why have you done that?” ~“ Principally,’ was the reply, “ be- cause the Title Guarantee & Trust Com- pany have informed us that they would decline to insure the title. It is not a title at present that is perfect, they say.” ‘ But,” Finch’s voice broke in irritably, “the courts will easily remove that slight cloud.” “Well, perhaps -so,’’ said the lawyer, ‘and I might suggest that this is what you yourself should have attended to.” ‘“What’s the matter with doing it now?” demanded Finch. ‘“ Because,” was the response, “it is a process that might require a year or two, and in that time there is no telling what exigencies might arise. Mr. Squires wanted the property for immediate use. His plans in all probability will be of different character within the next: few months.” ical Sa COMMICLOOOKS O)