Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

256 being and a good fellow, such as all men of real talent are. No posing; no affectation. Just be yourself.” I cheered him up considerably by explain- ing that everything he would have to say would be written out for him to memorize. He said his memory was first class; but he saw a difficulty in the fact that he did not look like a prosperous celebrity. He cer- tainly was right as far as externals were concerned. It is well known that many great authors are careless in their dress, but their indifference rarely goes as far as a preference for moth-holes in their trousers, and boots that should have been in the ash- can. Jervis also suggested that a famous author with empty pockets, while not un- known in the annals of literature, was not convincing and might stir the suspicions of the doubtful. These reasonable objections were met by the assurance that the enter- prise would be adequately financed. “JT want to make one more suggestion,” said Dick Harlowe. ‘“ We are all here ex- cepting Blythe and Ben Gleason. Six out of eight would be considered a quorum in any directors’ meeting, so we can decide an important financial matter. Tom Jervis is the one man in the world who can keep our scheme going. Without him we would have to dissolve a prosperous partnership. I move that hereafter, instead of dividing our profits into eight parts, we divide in ninths and hand the extra share to Jervis.” The others agreed fo this at once; but Jervis protested that he would not think of taking money for doing a good turn for fel- lows who had been friendly to him. Dick assured him that he would earn the money; that he was now the most valuable member of the organization. ‘The only condition attached to this munificent offer was that, after being interviewed enough to convince all doubters that there really was a Seumas Shayne, Jervis was to go to London or Paris as the firm’s European representative. It required considerable argument to con- vince Jervis that he could make this arrange- ment without being a grafter or an object of charity; but the fellows finally proved to him that his services in this emergency were well worth all he would receive. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Thus it was settled that three days later Tom Jervis was to arrive at the St. Felix Hotel with an entire new outfit of modish raiment, a liberal supply of ready money, and as much smart looking luggage as a distinguished author might be supposed to bring with him when on a flying trip to the land of more or less freedom. I was to re- ceive confidential information that the cele- brated all-round genius was in the city for a brief visit; then I was to pass the word to Nell Teller and arrange for her to meet him, Harlowe and I spent the evening in get- ting up an interview, in which I sustained the reportorial end of the conversation and Dick supplied the line of talk for the dis- tinguished author. If I do say it, the re- sult was a pretty bit of work. { surmised that one of Nell’s first ques- tions would refer to the three different autographs in the three Seumas Shayne books presented to me. Tom’s explanation was to be that his varied handwriting was a gift which had caused a lot of practical joking when he was at school, so he had written the inscriptions differently in giving the books to an old schoolmate. Nell might ask for a demonstration of this peculiar talent; but that was where the bandaged wrist was a gift from Heaven. It was my intention that she should be the first and, if possible, the only writer to interview the elusive celebrity, as I wanted to compen- sate her for the shameful way in which I was deceiving her. We might not be able to avoid other interviews; but we figured that if Jervis got safely through the first ordeal, the others would be easy, as they would be practically repetitions. CHAPTER XIII. THE COMING OF “R. JONES.” Y plan was to inform Nell Teller that Seumas Shayne had arrived in New York for the purpose of hearing his opera. As she had had her suspicions aroused, she would probably look over the passenger lists of incoming steamers and if she failed to find his name, she would be apt to ask me a lot of annoying questions, 6A (E00) DOO ANIC <S (E@)