Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

A LETTER OF DISCREDIT. realize that. It isn’t a very pleasant posi- tion, but I can’t be too finicky.” ‘The deuce you can’t! I tell you what you do. Go and tell old Matthews to rub your jeb in his hair. Come over to our place. I can get you in there, and I know it ‘How do you know it, and why do you want me?” ‘““T know it because I’m managing clerk and have something to say about it, and because I know the kind of men the firm want, men with nerve and determination and straightforward fearlessness such as you’ve proved you’ve got.” ‘* Well, I’m sure I’m grateful for the offer, but I’m going to stick it out here at least till they throw me out. I won’t give them the satisfaction of getting my goat.” “Well, as I’ve said, I like your nerve, but Ill tell you right now you'll never get anywhere with old Matthews. He'll figure out some scheme to get rid of you in such a way that they won’t give him the laugh for backing down, even if he has to poison your soup or something. And ali the while he’ll be as friendly and oily on the surface as a buttered wheat-cake.”’ “Tl certainly remember you ii I get the bounce from Matthews.” “Do. And meantime I hope we get better acquainted.” They did. In the weeks that followed they frequently lunched together and occa- sionally went out for an evening, after Brad- well had made it clear that he had nothing to live on but his ten doliars a week, and that his outings must accord-ngiy be infre- quent and exceedingly inexpensive. So with this meager measure of com- panionship, Bradwell found life more en- durable. He could not help liking Worden. Yet he was conscious of mental reservations toward him. He failed to understand the man’s mysterious eagerness to get him into his own firm. There came sooner than he expected an opportunity to te.. the genuineness of his new acquaintance. The combined efforts of his office associates to get rid of the white elephant old Matthews’s abortive sporting instincts had foisted on them had proved vain. Bradwell had blithely ignored 39 snubs. He had cheerfully performed elabo- rately disagreeable tasks. He had inva- riably kept his temper. He had worked hard, and with constant vigilance had avoided giving his chief any possible excuse for discharging him. Then a fortuitous and ridiculously insig- nificant incident turned the trick. The big inner office, occupied by Mat- thews, contained the firm’s law library. Here with the books Bradwell spent such time as he had free from Chester’s unin- teresting assignments. The head of the firm, smoked a certain ‘brand of expensive cigars and always kept a box of them in his desk. Two or three times Bradwell had caught the office boy leaning out of a window in the outer hall smoking a man’s-size cigar which, with the fleeting glimpse Bradwell caught of it, re- sembled the Matthews brand. One day he was reading just back of a bookcase. Matthews had left the room for a moment, leaving his desk unlocked. Brad- well heard a stealthy step, and looked out in time to see the boy tiptoe in, take a handful of cigars from the old man’s desk, and sneak out again, unconscious that he had been observed. A few minutes later, just as Bradwell was leaving the room, Matthews returned. Bradwell had barely reached his desk when the thief bounced out of his office. He was very red in the face, and all his suave manner had vanished in a flash. He strode straight to Bradwell’s desk and, pointing a pudgy finger within an inch .of his nose, roared: ‘““ Get out of here at once! Get your pay and go! Here I trusted you as I would a man with a decent reputation, and you’re up to your old tricks again. I expected it all the time.”’ Bradwell had ‘sprung to his feet in amazement and anger. Work in.the office was suspended. Every eye was on him. He had not the remotest idea of what charge his employcr was bringing. His conscience was clear, but his bewilderment left him for a moment at a disadvantage. Meantime the chief stormed on to the de- light of all his audience save one. ‘““ Just what are you accusing me of?” MICLOOO SS (CO CO