Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

724 injustice and injury that now clutched him. In this crisis, the greatest he ever had faced in his colorless life, his brain accelerated to . lightning activity. Without flying into a passion, which: he sensed would defeat him in’ a mental encounter with a man like Mr. _ufacturer places in all his coats. bear your name,” Holcomb, he acted in a manner that he > never would have dared to contemplate in a calmer moment.. He stepped swiftly across the floor and snatched up ‘the over- coat. “ Pardon me, Mr. Holcomb,” he said in a well controlled voice that nevertheless ‘throbbed with the intensity of his feeling “but this coat was bought and paid for by me. +P) Disregarding the president? S grim expres- sion, he continued: ~> ‘Whether I have a receipt or not makes. no difference. The whole-office force saw me wear this coat into the office this morn- ing. Despite the fa¢t that you picked it up and tossed it around, ‘this overcoat is still in my possession. And possession, please remember, is nine points.of the law.” Mr. Holcomb glared at him. “ Proceed, sir!’ he commanded. Dobell did so, calmly and logically. | ‘When a person claims ownership of an article which is in the possession of an- other, sir, it is required that the claimant shall identify the claimed article. I. shall have to ask, therefore, before 1 surrender | this garment to you that you shall identify it as your property.” . Mr. Holcomb rose to his feet. ~ “ Certainly I can identify it,” he said. “Tt’s my coat. Every one here has seen me wear it.”’ He turned to his secretary, who was eagerly listening. ‘“ Isn't this my coatp” he asked. . “Tt appears to be,” the girl snemered. “ Appearances do not count,” stated Do- bell. “The article must be positively iden- tified. Since the coat is a ready made one, scores of others just like it are in existence.. For all I know, the coat which you lost, Mr. Holcomb, merely looked like this one.” The boss took a step toward Dobell, but the latter returned his glare so fiercely and held the coat in such a determined manner that the great man evidently abandoned his intention of taking forcible possession of it. a 7 { ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEERLY. . - “There’s a label in the pocket,” he said. “T can identify it by that.” Dobell looked. “ Merely the ordinary label which a man- It doesn’t “* Well—well—” The great man ‘stut- tered and looked baffled. “Tf you can even state that a certain button is loose—any little thing like that—it might be held to be an identification of the _ property as. yours,” Dobell suggested. Mr. Holcomb flushed angrily. ‘“ Damn it, sir, do you think I have time to notice -trifles like that?” ' Dobell took a step toward the door. His hat was in his -hand and, the overcoat was over his arm. “Since. you have failed to identify the coat as yours,” he said, “ you: must pardon me if I insist on retaining possession of it.’” Holcomb barred his way. “Look here, young man—” he began threateningly. But Dobell could not be intimidated. . “If you doubt the legality of my action, you may call a policeman,” he suggested. _ Holcomb ‘made no reply, so Dobell pro- ceeded toward the door. His hand was on the knob when the president 1 cried: T4 Wait! .? “Ves?” queried the clerk. Holcomb, looked less ferocious. He sat down at his desk and pointed to a chair - beside it. “Sit there,” he requested mildly. Dobell did so—still retaining a tight hold on the coat. “Where did you learn to talk in that calm and ‘ogical manner?” the president asked. For the first time the naturally timid clerk: realized that he had adopted a high and mighty tone toward a man who out-: - classed him in the business world as the Woolworth Tower outclasses a squatter’s shack, ’. Confusion crimsoned his cheeks for a moment. And then self-confidence came to him as he realized that in the verbal. — battle he had more than held his own. ‘“T just talked-as I-felt, sir,” he said. “You put up a mighty fine talk. Do you know that?” C@ 1NOO S C@