Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

WHAT STEVE If only he had his coat back, Barney re- flected bitterly, everything would be all right. He would cease to cringe at the curi- ous, sometimes scornful glances of his fel- low men. He would cease to be a craven coward, afraid to say to Belle Crawford what his heart was bursting to say. “‘ Steve Brodie did!” Barney muttered, wrung with pain. *‘ Steve Brodie did what, Barney?” “Nothing, Belle. Gee, I wish I had my brown benny back!” The doorbell rang loudly and repeat- edly. Belle answered the ring and ushered in a young policeman. Barney recognized him with a loud, “ Hello!” “¢ Sorry to intrude,’ the policeman apolo- gized. ‘* Wilder’s landlady said I might find him here. About that overcoat—we got the fellow that stole it. He was trying to sell it to a hock shop. Can you come over to the station and identify the coat so’s we can make a charge?” Barney sprang up, grinning. “TI got it!” he cried. ‘I got my benny back! Talk about luck, I got it back in time to go after that job!” Barney expanded visibly as though the big, brown, prosperous coat al- ready incased him. ‘ Somebody try to keep me out of that job now!” he gloated. So restored was all his old-time confidence he would have forthwith swept the smiling Belle Crawford into his arms and kissed her, had not the presence of her mother and the patrolman put a brake on his impulse. At the district police station Barney iden- tified the coat and beheld it again with a wide smile. “You be at Jefferson Market Court at ten o’clock Monday morning, sure,” the Neutenant in charge instructed him. Barney promised. “ This is certainly go- ing to come in handy,” he grinned, reaching for the coat. ‘I’ve got to talk to a man about getting a job to-morrow morning, and I need my scenery—”’ “Here, you can’t have that coat!” the Jieutenant cried. ‘“What do you mean, I can’t have it? It’s my coat—” “Not right now, it isn’t. It’s the law’s coat. This coat has got to be exhibit A m BRODIE DID, 983 the case of People versus John. Doe, Mon- day morning, see?” “Sure, that’s all right about next Mon- day,”’ Barney agreed, reasonably. “ But look! ing to see a man in—”’ The lieutenant shook his head. “¢ Sure, I have!” Barney exclaimed. “ It’s an appointment to get a job. See, here’s his letter—”’ ‘““T’m not keeping you from it. Go ahead. But I’ve got to keep the evidence. That’s my job—” “ Well—well, listen! Just listen a min- ute! That coat is my scenery, d’ya see? I got to look right or I won’t get this job—” ‘And I’ve got to hold the job I’ve al- ready got,” said the lieutenant. ‘ And that job is to hold your coat—”’ ‘Listen, have a heart! It’s snowing ter- ribly outside—” “You look husky—” “It ain’t a question of looking husky. I’ve got to look like I had money—” “Not in this coat—” “For just an hour, then, while I talk to this party. Let me borrow it in the morning—” ce No.” “You can send a cop along to watch it.” rf 4 No.” “T’m honest. Take a chance on me.” €¢ No.” “‘ Aw, Steve Brodie would—” *‘ Steve Brodie ain’t working here. Out- side for you, my boy!” Barney turned away slowly, unable to credit this culmination of his woes. The friendly young patrolman whispered a sug- gestion to the lieutenant. The lieutenant beckoned Barney back. “TI got a heart,” he explained. ‘ You go see the judge, and if he gives you a court order you can wear your coat till the case is called. There’s just a chance that you can get away with it.” ‘Chance! Show me any chance.” * See the judge, then. To-morrow morn- ing, Jefferson Market, nine o’clock.” Nine o’clock. The words spelled Bar- ney’s doom. His head sank again. He plodded out of the station beyond words to COMIGD OO! I’ve got to wear it to-morrow morn-- (©