Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

HONEST FOOL. shrimps. You were born right an’ fed right.” “Dm big enough,” admitted the other. ‘“ An’ I et plenty.” “Tl bet you’re somebody where you come from.” Again suspicion flickered in the rustic’s eyes. A distressing thought chilled him, This fat stranger was a detective set on his trail by the tireless machinery of the law in connection with the unfortunate episode of the canoe-load of whisky. Mumphy saw that he had touched a tender spot. ‘“‘ That’s why I’ve took to you,” he con- tinued, tactfully. ‘I’m like that meself.” He paused for a moment to quaff another glass and select a few of the bright ideas with which his brain was swarming. “I’m a great man in my little old home town,” he continued. ‘“ That’s a long ways away —down in ol’ Virginy. They name race- hosses after me down there. I’ve made a name in the world—I’ll admit that—but I ain’t a millionaire, which is what the folks down home think Iam. That’s the trouble with little town folks. ‘They think every successful man’s a millionaire. So I ain’t been home in fifteen years. Pride keeps me away. They’d expect me to build ’em a library an’ a hospital. Yes, sir—an’ that’s more’n I could afford; an’ then they‘d think my success was all bunk. 5o it looks like Tt be an old man before I can go homé—and all because I’ve made a name for myself in the great world. Beats hell, don’t it?” It beat Jeff, whatever else. He couldn’t make head or tail of it, but it quieted his suspicions. He emptied his second bottle, and another appeared at his elbow. “Tm an actor-manager,” said Mr. Mumphy. That was high and low Dutch to Jeff; and it went down with a gulp of beer. “Tm out lookin’ for talent—something with class to it,” added Mumphy, stimulat- ing his imagination with a long pull. “ And T wouldn’t wonder but you an’ me could do business together,” he continued. ‘‘ You are a strong man. I bet you're strong as a bull. What you want to do is capitalize ver strenoth.” 591 jeff stuck out his chest. He was strong, all right. “YT ain’t no fadin’ lily myself,” said Mumphy, extending a large paw across the table. ‘“ Take a grip on that, an’ I'll soon know how strong you are.” Jeff gripped enthusiastically. gasped. ‘‘ Enough.”’ ‘““There’s only one man I ever see can beat me at that,” said Jeff. “I’ve gripped hundreds, an’ some quit at the first squeeze, the same as yerself, an’ some quit at the second—but they all quit. All ’cept one.” Irom the consideration of his numbed right hand, Mumphy lifted his glance and his attentiog again to his companion. ‘Can you swing an axe?” he asked. Mumphy ‘} ain't lookin’ for a job in the woods,” { said Jeff. “Nor I couldn’t give you one if you was,” returned Mumphy. ‘“ Ain’t I told you I’m an actor-manager lookin’ for talent? What I want’s a strong man for a special act—on the stage, d’ye see?—knockin’ chunks big as soup plates out of logs an’ chuckin’ weights around. I got it—The Tall Timber Terror! That's the dope! That'll go across big—if you can deliver the goods.” Jeff did not grasp the idea immediately. Mumphy explained and elaborated it. His elaborations necessitated further explana- tions. Talking is thirsty work, and so is listening; and Mumphy was by now ex- panded far beyond that niggardly mood in which a generous and enterprising man keeps count of such unimportant things as half-dollars. Mumphy awoke; and on the instant, be- fore he could bestir his brain to the effort of thought, he sensed and felt a number of things. For instance, he felt that he had been drinking beer, and better beer than he had tasted for years, but too much of it; and he sensed that he had been doing busi- ness and was again, at last, on the road to easy money. Then he glanced around the room and remembered that he was in Mon- treal. Next, one by one, he recalled the particulars of his meeting and session with the gigantic and simple bushwhacker. The giant’s name was Jeff, but what else he did not know. If he had obtained the giant’s COMmiclooks CO