Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

800 ered. Sarah is not old like you. If she and Ed love each other, they will arrange it somehow. Isn’t it better that their mar- ‘riage should be delayed, than you, an old man, should become homeless? If you give this money, they will never know your sac- rifice. Be sensible. Rest! You deserve it. Go to sleep.” . Gradually he slumbered. How long he knew not. A moaning wind rattled the windows. He opened his eyes. He saw lights, shapes, ghosts, leering devils!. sprang up, despite his age. wailed again. He couldn’t stand it. “ Sarah!” he shrieked. , ““ Dad!” came the answer. ‘“‘ Sarah! Come here!” “Dad! Dad!” she called, rushing to his room, “ Sarah, make a light.” She obeyed. ° “Dad, what’s the matter? Are you all night?” “Yes, girl.” “For mercy’s sake, what’s up?” “ Come here. Sit by me.” | Again she obeyed. He stroked her arm tenderly. An. expression of contented understand- ing love illumined the old man’s face.’ His voice was low and ‘calm. “Sarah, you said you needed one hun- dred and eighty-five dollars. ‘It is there in ‘my coat pocket.” Le) U He — The voices: ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Dad! Are you crazy?” “Look!” insisted the old man, pointing with shaking firiger. She picked up his coat. “Yn the inside ‘BOrker, Sarah, in that book.” With twitching hands she searched. She produced the book. “* Open it.” Two yellow one hundred dollar bills flut- tered out. “Dad!” she called. “ Is it ours?” ‘Not -ours, Sarah. Y SUES — yolks and Ed’s.” - She smothered him with hugs, kisses, ca- - resses, but dad seemed gradually to ‘with- draw into his own shell of weary stoicism. The next day he did not call on Charley Foss, but went around to see Jim, the fore- “man, “Sure, take your job back again,” said Jim, replying to the old man’s plea. Monday morning Dad Snyder rang ‘in at Mower’s again. Wearily he picked up the waste baskets and shuddered at the smeary cuspidors. still, this wouldn’t last forever, he solilo- quized. As soon as Sarah married he would get a.room, and save perhaps three dollars a week, A year and a half wouldn’t be so long to wait. Then he could g0 to the home and rest. wae “If only I can last,” he reflected as he mopped the floor; “ if only I can last.” Lv} Lv} WAITING THE world stops while I wait for you: Winds hold their breath, that hurried through ‘The cafions, and the tallest trees Cease their low gossiping pleasantries. The world stops while I wait for you: The humming bird above the blue Tall columbine hangs poised and still The sun stops short against the hill. And then you come, and smile, and then The world takes up its tasks again! Z Mary Carolyn Davies. 10 A! comicloao CO