Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

286 THE ‘town, do they? But you’re not really so bad as you’re painted.” He leaned forward confidentially. “Father really needs this money—this and a bunch of other bills he’s sent me out to collect. It isn’t only the two twenty- five for the flivver. The man who owned it wants it right away, and father promised he’d get it. But besides that, you owe us that much more, Mr. Hoskins—nearly four months now on the other car. Father needs that, too. He’s in a rotten hole—every- body in the place is threatening to strike. I’m supposed to be back in college in an- other month. You think I’m going? No, sir—I’m going to ‘be a garage mechanic this winter. “Now, you’ve got plenty of money, Mr. Hoskins. You pay this bill—some of it, anyway. Pay for the flivver—so father can give the man his money.” Old man Hoskins choked back with dif- ficulty the habitual crusty retort that sprang to his lips. He liked this smiling young man somehow. % “So I’ve got plenty of money?” he de- manded. ‘I get taxes and insurance and labor and materials for repairs on credit? Do you think I do? And nearly every ten- ant I’ve got is a month or two in arrears. And every laboring man I employ to do repairs makes more money than I do my- . self. And everybody thinks I’m ich. I’m a profiteer because I’m a landlord.” The young man in overalls grinned but said nothing. “T’d pay your bill if I had the money handy,” added old man Hoskins. “ But I haven’t.”’ The office door opened and @ man in a black derby hat entered unceremoniously. “JT scared him to death this time—not a chance to stall.” The newcomer drew a slip of paper from his pocket and laid it on old man Hoskins’s desk with a flourish. “Two months—two hundred dollars. I had him faded to a standstill, I’m telling you.” He slung his derby hat on a rack and passed through to the rear office. The young man in overalls stared for one brief instant. Then he reached over ARGOSY. and picked up the slip of paper. of Charles Allen!” he exclaimed—he was grinning broadly now. ‘‘ Why, he’s the man from whom you bought the flivver, Mr. Hoskins—now what do you know about that!” Old man Hoskins reached for the check, but his visitor held it away from him. “ Be a good sport, Mr. Hoskins,” he pleaded. ‘“ Put your name on this and give it to me. It ‘ll pay for the flivver—we’ll let the twenty-five go on the bill till some other time. It ‘ll help us out a lot. You never expected to get it, anyway.” Young Mr. Blake had lunch with -the Al- lens that same Saturday noon as a prelim- inary to a game of golf. Near the end of the meal the conversation drifted around to the check that Allen had given Blake the night before. ‘That bad check idea worries me a lot, Jim,” said Allen. more ice-cream.” ‘IT phoned the garage again this morn- ing,’ said Mrs. Allen. ‘“‘ Mr. Horton said positively that I needn’t worry—that he would guarantee the payment.” ‘“T wish you’d have suggested maybe that he advance the money,” said her hus- band. “What’s the difference,” put in young Mr. Blake, “‘so long as you get it in time to make the check good?” ‘I did tell him we needed the two hun- dred dollars very badly,” said Mrs. Allen. ‘“He was awfully nice—said he’d send it up just as soon as he got it.” The maid entered. ‘“ A young man from Horton’s garage, sir.” She handed a sealed envelope and a sheet of paper to Mr. Allen. ‘“ He said would you please sign the receipt and let him take it back. The money’s in the envelope.” “The money for the car!” exclaimed Mrs. Allen. “Fine!” said young Mr. Blake. “ Now everything’s all right about the check.” A The master of the house signed the re-. ceipt and handed it back to the maid. Then he tore open the envelope carelessly, and amid dead silence laid his own worthless check on the table before them. (E00) vDOOK AMG “A check ‘“ Here, wait, have some (E@)