Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

A LETTER OF DISCREDIT. “There, little girl, don’t cry,” he chuckled, and swaggered out, closing the door after him with exaggerated care. CHAPTER II. THE BRUISER’S PHILOSOPHY. ON the steps outside, Bradwell’s assumed manner of debonair insolence, so habitual in his old days, so seldom worn in this last bitter year, was cast aside like a distasteful garment. He stood again with clenched fists, his good resolutions wavering in the balance. ‘I'd like to go back and smear the godly old shyster all over the top of his desk!”’ he growled. ‘“ Too bad I didn’t do it while I was drunk and feeling morally irresponsi- ble. I’m almost sorry I promised myself not to get drunk again.” A young woman came around the corner at that moment, caught his eye for an in- stant, then stared rigidly ahead of her as she walked primly by without other sign that she had seen him than a slightly heightened color. “ Being the same young person who was so blamed glad to let me spend a considera-: ble part of my ill-gotten gains on her no longer than two years ago,” he mused bitterly. ‘* They’re all like her in this smug little burg—one thousand two hundred and fifty self-righteous goo-goos by the census of 1910. And every last one of ’em but a few of the old fogies was a friend of mine less than two years ago.” Two small boys came down the street. As they’ sighted him there were giggling whispers. Then one fell in behind the other and placed his hands on his companion’s shoulders. They marched by in exagger- ated lock-step, stealing glances at Bradwell. Loafers on the hotel steps guffawed their appreciation. ‘When was you fellers let out of Sing Sing?” called one of them. ‘Think I’d have quite a pleasant time if I stayed around here,” sighed Bradwell. He crossed the street and entered the battered hotel where he had spent the night before. “ Good morning, jolly old pals,” he called 3 ARGOSY 33 defiantly at the loafers on the steps, but got only sheepish grins in response. As he passed the bar door on his way to the desk he caught the odor of stale beer, a sickening reminder of the unsavory night he had put in. He had another revulsion of feeling. ““T’m afraid I didn’t make a very high bid for public reinstatement,” he admitted. ‘Yet I’ve little ground for getting hot.” His bill paid, he collected his meager bag- gage and went over to the dingy little sta- tion, where he sat in solitude on a baggage- truck and pondered in chastened mood while he waited for the train to Buffalo. When he had returned to his native vil- lage twenty-four hours before he was in wavering mind as to the details of his future ceurse. A letter to Warren a week before his discharge had brought no response from that implacable foe. Nevertheless, he had returned with the incidental purpose of giv- ing his birthplace an opportunity to be charitable if it would, but primarily to prove to himself and his old acquaintances that he had the courage to face them. In his first purpose he had failed utterly. In his second and main design he had been toe successful, he felt now. He had gone beyond his objective, to use a military figure, and failed to consolidate his gains. And there was some question in his mind if he was even retreating now in good order. In other words, stung by the rebuff of his old associates, he had passed from humble but courageous facing of public cen- sure to arrogant and outrageous defiance. On his first arrival he had gone straight to Warren’s office with the proposition that the old lawyer reemploy him and give him opportunity to make good and gradually pay back the money he had stolen. The old man had ordered him out without listening to him. Still undaunted, he had sought. employ- ment from each of the two village store- keepers, from the local coal-dealer and pro- duce-buyer, and others, finally offering him- self as laborer to near-by farmers he met at the stores. Emphatic refusals, some cold, some decidedly heated, were the net results. His social attempts had brought like re- turns. He had essayed calls on two house- comicloool<