Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

THE LOG-BOOK. wonder, then, that such a man would refuse to labor for a pittance of fifty dollars a month, especially when the dearest girl in the world was ready, and waiting? And so, when opportunity came knocking, Joe House was at home, and the starter’s pistol, so to speak, gave him his cue. This is published as a complete novelette in THE Arcosy for April 24. s as a Some years ago I lost a camera containing a dozen. snap-shots which, of course, I had never seen. when he developed the photographs, and when you read “OUT OF PAWN,” by Maxwell Smith next week you will see why I was instantly reminded by this story of my own experience. Incidentally it’s one of the cleverest crime yarns I have printed in some time. In “A GOOD-FOR-NOTHIN’ GAL,” Edwina Levin tells a remarkable tale of self-sacrifice coming from a perfectly extraordinary quarter. In 143 I did a good deal of speculating on what the finder would think . short, the entire narrative is of a most unusual description and deserves to rank high in the year’s fiction output. “ COMPOUNDIN’ A FELONY ” is another of Ray- mond J. Brown’s inimitable accounts of how Joe Conner contrived to keep the wolf ® from the door. 2 A LOVER OF THE UNREAL | Derby, Iowa. I want to express my feelings toward THE Arcosy. It is the best magazine I ever read. I for one do not see how it could be improved, It is sure a great magazine. I am a lover of Western stories. Among my favorites were: “The Duke of Chimney Butte,” “ Beau Rand,” “Cold Steel,” and “ Drag Harlan.” In fact, any good Western story full of pep is what I like. I sure enjoy the short stories, but can hardly wait for the serials. “Crossroads” sure is starting in promisingly. I like —but some of your other readers do not like— unreal and imaginary stories. Please find enclosed four dollars, for which extend my subscription another year. Yours for success. Ep Swirt. NONE TO TAKE ITS PLACE Des Moines, Iowa. Just a line to let you know how I stand with THe Arcosy. Have been a constant reader for eight years. Don’t think it can be equaled. I think if Mr. Willette would read more of them he would soon change his mind as to novelettes and serials; and as to the difference in the stories of to-day and fifteen years ago, I think we have got to stay closer to possibilities. I can’t help but think THe Arcosy is far ahead of any other, as none will take its place with me. I also want to state to Miss Curlis, of Ohio, and Miss Smith, of Oklahoma, that all men are not alike, and I think most of them will agree with me that a little powder and sometimes a little paint sure helps the girls along. Nearly every man powders after shaving, and sometimes oftener. D. J. Cooy. A PUFF FOR POWDER Se Birmingham, Alabama. I have been a reader of THe Arcosy for eight | years, and in my opinion it is the very best published. I like Charles B. Stilson better than any author you have. Miss Marie Curlis, of Hamilton, .Ohio, seems to think boys don’t like girls who powder. I say, the more the better. RS This is my first letter to THe Arcosy, but not last. Please print it, as I want Miss Curlis to see it. L. Brarr Parsons. P. S.—Where can I get “ Polaris of the Snows,” by Charles B. Stilson? “Polaris of the Snows” ran in Au-Story Weekly, December 18, 19f%, to January 1, 10916 —three numbers, twenty cents each. INDORSING THE AUTHOR IN COAL MINE DEPTH | Cleveland, Qhio. ' I see where some gink speaks of some of your | stories as “ poor.” I am like the Kentuckisn with whisky, I never saw a poor story in THE Arcosy; some are better than others, but they are all good. I see where some one criticizes one of your authors about the depth of a coal mine described by him. I was raised in a coal district, and the average depth of the mines in southern Iowa is 128 feet, while some are just drifts in the side of a hill. The deep mines the critic refers to are the quartz mines, which are as deep as near 6,000 feet at the Calumet & Hecla, at Red Jacket, Michigan. The average quartz mines at Butte, Montana; Bisbee, Arizona, and the Colorado dis- trict are about 1,000 feet. I have worked in most of them, and know. Jack H. Lone. GETTING BACK AT MR. RETTBURG ; Denver, Colorado. ° Please tell me how Mr. H. D. Rettburg could get that way so bad. I have seen a lot of Rett- burgs in my time; you know the bright young man who spends his odd minutes in front of the store on Main Street casting critical eyes at the girls as they pass, and if he can find another bright young man for a companion he generally whispers Something; then they both giggle and look like they thought they had really accomplished some- thing worth while. Mr. Rettburg deplores: the use of “camouflage” by us girls. ‘ . - CO NOOLK S C@