Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Se « “ "Then right here, where. the old wheel = “was, we'll put a pool table. And over here _ =] believe this is where the mechanical = piano steod—and I hear Doxey’s taken it up to the Baptist church. Here’s where you can put a few marble-top tables for soda and ice cream. ae can Ss ie of “Yn plain terms, Pm going to set you up in business—and as I said when I first _ ‘Met you, it’s going to be a pure business __ proposition. I’m not taking all the money — and paying you a salary—we’ re going fifty- fifty. I can see money in it—big money. - _*]’m naturally a business man, and I eS think i in terms of big money—none of this = chow cart stuff! We're going to open up a community center, as you might say.” — oe soups good. z = “There. ‘was no hesitation on the part of = ‘Hallie. There was no possible argument, = because they had the Hight on felt side. - considered - a ee see ‘a piece of extraordinary juck—the kind of luck her father was known to have when the wheel == was running in the old days. “Of course I’m on,” she rephed._ = _ stepped out to his little car, and a moment later returned with a curious-looking suit = case, black with brass- comers. = EA iittle- side line of mine,” he said; “a = ae success among the farmers of the 7 ‘Kansas prairies. In this satche! I have — the key, not only to the past—to the scenes z -_ once made this gaming den the glory = “mance = Fike world—to all the voices, from = ‘the smallest to the greatest, from the ugliest —- to the most beautiful! = ‘With the instrument f have in this = satchel you can enchant the hearts of all | = the. n men: ia. erp! as the pied piper of ee ae ARGOSY-ALLSTORY ‘WEEKLY. will say that in this suit case I have a a cer- tain merchandise which Orsino called the ‘food of love ’!” He opened the lock and threw back the leather cover with a flourish. ‘Why, it’s only a paonograph: the girl cried, ““Ves—only a little tin phonograph with a horn! That’s all this box contains. But what a wretched way of phrasing it: only a phonograph! “ What does this little sombrero you are wearing, and this little frock, and those lit- tle high-laced boots—what does this outfit contain? Only a woman! “And this broken bottle underneath the bar rail? What did it contain? Only « And what does this satchel contains Only song! “ All the laws of the world cannot pre- vail against these three—no, nor against any two of them. “And we've got the two = most important—woman and song! It-is all that j is needed to set the town of Sun- up burning!” “Well, look here, mister!” the girl laughed. _“‘ I must say old Mr. Doxey was _ pretty wise. when he refused to give me a ne. - job. When my ma said Sun-up was a quiet place, and that I’d be safe, I guess She didn’t figure I was elected to set the town on fire!” “Well, I take that as a verbal contract.” “ Here’s my hand.” As they shook hands the bleached, dried- up house reéchoed with the lush voices of four negroes. The phonograph was offer- Be a = ee ot coon-shouting = : = They 2S == = to Gacrein for to wear her life away, = _ As she toils in the cotton and the cane! eee Both listened — an innate rapture per- vading the girl, awakening her just as the harmony awoke the dead echoes of frat old den. : “ One night I went to see her, but” + She's = gone,’ the neighbors say, ‘Fhe white man’s bound her with his chain! » Dp ae and heairenting ditty,” Fred = “But wait. Shed no — im} = ~ = ~ = comieboaks.co ee eee EE — SSS