Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 13, 1923 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

SOAP AND from the house. But he felt that Gage wouldn’t hold that against him if he proved a willing tool. One hundred dollars a week! He could at least say for the General Sup- ply that they paid a higher price for dis- honesty than Judson. Why not take their offer? It would only serve Judson right for the way he had treated him. It would be a legitimate trick of the trade, a good business stroke. And if Judson heard about it later on he couldn’t say anything because he had tried to play the same game himself. Well, he would do it, Denny decided. Then he turned over and tried to sleep. But sleep did not come. He wasn’t sure of his decision. While one side of him told him he was an indecisive fool, another in- sisted that he couldn’t do a thing like that. He got up early, exhausted from the long struggle. But he had at least come to one conclusion, and he meant to go through with it. He decided to call on Amos Jud- son, tell him just what his circumstances were and if necessary beg him for reinstate- ment in the office. He would ask that favor, the chance to do the same work he had done before at the same low wages, for the sake of Dorothy and the baby. He would give old Judson a chance to do the decent thing, and then—well, if Amos Jud- son again ordered him out of the office he would go to the General Supply Company and become a well-paid consultant. He wondered whether he should tell Jud- son of the rival company’s offer. He de- cided not to, for that would be a kind of blackmail. No, he wouldn’t resort to such a trick. He would simply ask the old man for a chance to do the work he had done satisfactorily for years. He would tell him what he was up against, but that was as far as he would go. After that he felt he would be justified in selling out to the General Supply. But he had to give Amos another chance. Little old Denny started out bravely enough, but long before he reached the Jud- son building he was tempted to turn back. He dreaded meeting old Amos, and if he should see Chisholm he thought he would die of embarrassment. But he held himself to the task, for he couldn’t go to the other SOPHISTRY. 685 company until he had given his old em- ployer a chance. The girl at the outer desk knew him and he passed her with a mumbled good morning. He avoided every one else, and walked directly to Judson’s private office. At the door he paused, and summoned all his will to help him through the coming ordeal. He turned the knob and entered. Amos Judson, looking unaccountably old, was at his desk writing. He did not look up until Denny coughed. Then his mouth opened in surprise and he seemed about to speak. Denny stepped forward, close to the desk, and began first. “Mr. Judson, please give me a few min- utes,” he pleaded. ‘‘ I won’t take more than that. I’ve come to ask for my old job back. That’s all I want, a chance to do the work I can do at living wages. I’ve got to have something to do. I haven’t much money left. ‘The baby’s been sick and Dorothy is worried. Why, last night I found her typing—some work she took just for the sake of a few dollars. And work is mighty scarce. I can’t get anything; I’ve been everywhere, I guess, and always turned down. I’m worth more to you than { am to anybody else, because I know the business, I don’t think you ever found anything wrong with my work, and if you’d only forget that—that disagreement—we had I thought maybe you’d take me back. It’s more for Dorothy and little Dan than me.” It wasn’t exactly what he meant to say, but the words tumbled out that way. Amos looked at him steadily, but did not speak, and it seemed to Denny that there was a malicious sparkle in the old man’s eyes. “Huh!” he grunted at last. ‘“ Back again, are you? So you think you’re worth more to me than to anybody else, eh? Huh!” Denny did not speak, but a flush rose to his cheeks and his jaw tensed. It would serve Judson right if he went to the Gen- eral Supply. It would— “Sit down!” Amos bellowed, and from force of habit Denny obeyed. ** Now listen to me!” his former employer went on. “I’m not going to take you back at your old wages. I’m not going to give COPMICGLOOKS Eom