Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

278 and I’m with anybody, heart and soul, that’s sincere about what he’s trying to do.” “You're a great little booster, Sheila girl,” said Taffy admiringly, “I hope you'll never quit believing in me!” “T never will,” declared Sheila happily. “I'd scalp you first!” III. “AND now,” said Sheila, three hours later, unlocking the door to her tiny apart- ment, “‘ now for the big scheme that going to make us millionaires. Sit down there, and light your pipe, and elucidate. But let me tell you first, that this proposition had better be good, for I had a little one of my own, I wanted to put up to you.” ‘* What Is it, dear? That agency again?” “Yes,” said Sheila excitedly. ‘Oh, Taffy, if you only would come in with me! Mr. Markham gives me all the encourage- ment in the world. And I know of two trade papers we could get out, for two new concerns that will spend real money. Those alone, would float us till we got started. Only I haven’t any money, and I just don’t dare give up my job and take a gamble. You have five hundred dollars saved, Taffy. That would be plenty to start us. I could work evenings, and show you the ropes, and as soon as we got on a paying basis, I could quit Markham’s, and give all my time to it.” Sheila’s vivid little face was alight with enthusiasm. ‘‘T dare say we could make a go of it,” said Taffy indifferently, “but it’s piker money, Sheila girl. This proposition of Stockton’s is so much bigger.” “Not Carey Stockton!” exclaimed Sheila, a stricken look in her eyes. ‘“‘ Nobody else!” laughed Taffy. ‘* You know he and I weresold pals in college. “Yes, I know all about it,” said Sheila in a toneless voice. ‘‘ How he got you into his fraternity, and into the glee club, and all of it. But I can’t stand him!” “ Why?” asked Taffy in hurt amazement. “‘ Stockton’s the best friend I have.” Sheila ran a nervous hand through her red curls till they stood on end. ‘I don’t know, Taffy,” she said breathlessly, “I honestly don’t know! His clothes are too ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. well tailored. His smile is too flashing. His nails are to shiny—he’s too—every- thing! And—”’ she finished bitterly, ‘“‘ he calls me ‘ little girl!’ ” Taffy let out a whoop of laughter, in which there was a note of genuine relief. “Gee, Sheila, you had me goin’ for a minute! I thought maybe you really had something on Stockton.” “‘T have,” said Sheila, ‘ but I can’t put it into words. I feel it here.” She pressed one little hand to her heart. “Well, if that isn’t just like a woman!” rejoined Taffy disgustedly, ‘“‘ just because Stockton doesn’t run around looking like a hod carrier, you think he must be a crook. Most women are crazy over Stockton.” “Very likely,” said Sheila. ‘“ He has that melting, lady-killer look in the eye, that incites to murder. ‘ And how’s the little girl, this morning?’ ”’ she beamed, in hateful imitation. ‘‘ He’s so soft he almost runs!”’ Taffy rose. ‘‘ Well, I guess there isn’t any use of my telling you anything about it, then, if you’re going to be so prejudiced and unfair. But—but—I had sort of counted on you to help us in it. Whatever you say, Sheila, Stockton’s been a mighty good friend to me, always.” At the hurt look in Taffy’s eyes, Sheila capitulated. “ Don’t be a goose, darlin’,” she said, pushing him back into his chair; ‘“‘T’d take a vicious tarantula to my buz- zum, and make a household pet of it, if it was a friend of yours.” Taffy was only slightly mollified. ‘ Well, this proposition,” he began, “is a school of scenario writing.” ‘¢ Mail order?” asked Sheila crisply. “Yes, the usual thing—correspondence course. Only Stockton really knows how to run one. He’s had one for three years in Kansas City, and he’s just cleaning up on it, so he wants me to start one here.” “ Wants you to put in your five hundred dollars, doesn’t he?”’ ‘Why, yes!” Taffy snapped, in some em- barrassment. Some way telling Sheila wasn’t at all like he thought it was going to be. ‘‘ Of course he wouldn’t take me in, if I didn’t have a little something, to even up for his pull with producers, and his knowledge of the ropes.” GOMIIGIOO S CO©