Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

B52 “T’ve just arrived,” answered Dean. ** I'd like a chance to come in on the shout- ing.” “Well, you can shout all yer want. The damned company’s busted!” yelled the man. ‘“ And Mr. Eltzmann’s got control. There he is—God bless him!” Which was satirical, for Dean realized that it was Eltzmann’s name the crowd was shouting, and that it was bestowing anything rather than bouquets. ‘Damn swindling company’s after hogging all the claims,” new acquaintance. busted, said Dean’s ‘* Eltzmann’s collared the majority stock. That’s what we're shouting for. We’re going to make him give the Independent Diggers fair play or know the reason why. There ain’t no law in Santa Maria since England got out.” ‘ Eltzmann! Eltzmann!*’ shouted the crowd again, and the man at Dean’s side joined in with undiminished vigor. *“ Why don’t you show yerself, you cow- ardly fox?’’ questioned one of the mob near by. Of a sudden, as if in answer, Dean was amazed to see Eltzmann’s bald head, with the flaming fringe, appear at an upper window of the structure, before which was a little gallery. Deliberately Eltzmann opened the window and stepped out. The crowd set up a renewed roar. Eltzmann leaned his pudgy body over the wooden railing. What words he ut- tered were inaudible, for a roar of denun- ciation broke forth, and two hundred pairs of fists were raised threateningly toward him. Suddenly Eltzmann put himself in an absurd attitude of offense. fe doubled up his fists. ‘“Come on!” he bellowed. ‘ There ain’t aman ‘ere [ wouldn't have taken on when IT was younger. And there ain't one I’m afraid of now!”’ He pointed to a big farmer who towered head and shoulders above the mob. ‘Come up-stairs, Goliath!” he yelled. “Come on, boy! Tl fight vou for ‘arf a quid!” “Good old Eltzmann!”’ yelled the crowd, instantly won. ‘Good boy, Eltzmann! Fair play for us, that’s all we’re asking.” Eltzmann folded his arms. Instantly he ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. had become the grave and serious magnate. His answer came to Dean’s ears in snatches as the renewed outburst died away. “|, . Fair play for all residents of Ba- takaland, white, black, green, or vellow... new blood for the company .. . justice for every white man ... free nigger labor and prospecting .. .” The wild, irregular cheering for the little man upon the balcony swelled into a full- throated pean. And Eltzmann, laying one fat hand upon the region of his stomach, bowed. ‘“ How about the Fulani Goldfields, Eltz- mann?” shouted a bearded prospector from a wagon, which he had driven up the street and brought to a halt in the middle of the road. Eltzmann made a trumpet out of his hands. “. .. Company considering,” he velled. ‘‘ Fair play for all... do my best for you, boys . . . free drinks for every. one in the King George till midnight.” The crowd emitted a tremendous cheer that drowned all further utterance. In a twinkling it had dissolved, the street was cleared, and a frantic mob was swarming into the bar of the King George Hotel at the opposite corner of the Market Square. Eltzmann stood alone upon the balcony. Behind him Dean saw a lighted room, with half a dozen men seated at desks. Eltz- mann was elated with his triumph, and the Jeer with which he looked after the stam- peders. was more eloquent than speech. Suddenly he looked down and caught Dean’s gaze. He recognized his victim in- stantly: he betrayed his momentary sur- prise by the slight start he gave. Then he seemed to be considering. Finally his look became almost benignant. And, nodding to Dean, he jerked his thumb after the crowd with an indescribably vulgar gesture, as if to say: “Go and have a drink on me!” Dean almost reached for a stone to fling ’ at him. But Eltzmann had gone waddling back into the room, and Dean turned away, conscious of the same unaccountable feeling of amusement that always mitigated his rancor. Eltzmann.was at once rascal and clown, a combination as original as it was baffling. 2A CoOmicbhooks.com