Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

HONEST FOOL, 395 him one in the eye to the extent of forty actual iron men. “ An’ after what I’ve done for him!— eive ’im a good job with easy money!” mut- tered Mumphy. ‘‘ Thank God I’ve found out he’s crooked before it was too late!” And, there and then, Mr. Mumphy made his decision. He would drop this big boob, this fourflusher, this crook, and go after Jules. Since the uncorking of the second bottle of whisky, he had heard enough to satisfy him that Jules was to be found at or near a place of the name of Ste. Jeanne. a CHAPTER XVIII. LUCK, HARD AND SOFT. AVING made his decision, Mr. Mum- phy acted swiftly and without hesi- tation. He returned the wallet to Jeff’s poécket—empty. He found no papers on the sleeper except the recently signed agreement, of which he took possession. He pulled off Jeff’s shoes and coat, dragged him over to the bed and lifted him onto it, reasoning to the effect that a man will sleep longer on an indifferently soft mattress than on a hard floor. He then switched off the light and opened a window and looked out. This window was in a side of the hotel over- looking a narrow lane. Snow was falling. He closed the window quickly, fearing the effect of fresh air on the sleeper. He spread his own overcoat, a sportive autumn model that had seen better days, tenderly over Jeff’s feet. He rolled up Jeff's overcoat which, though many years old, was of good broadcloth and fur-lined and had been worn only on great occasions. It was somewhat short for Jeff—but it would be long enough for a shorter man. He placed the bottle, not quite empty, and a glass, on a chair be- side the bed. He opened the window again and threw out his bag, his suit case, his hat and Jeff’s overcoat. After closing the win- dow and drawing down the blind, he stood for half a minute beside the bed, listening to Jeff's breathing and sensing the depth of his slumber. Reassured, he went to the door, opened it, stepped out, closed it and locked it. He put the key m his pocket. Mumphy went down stairs, hatless, over- coatless. The night porter dozed in a chair in the desolate office. Mumphy shook him gently until he opened his eyes. ‘* Got a bottle of MacCulley’s Glenbally- hoo?” asked Mumphy. The porter had not; and he apologized, in his own simple way, for not having that which does not exist. Mumphy had taken no chances of receiving an affirmative an- swer. ‘“That’s all right, for I know where I can get it,” said Mumphy. “ Friend of my friend’s in the next street. It ain’t a com- mon blend. I'll dodge out an’ get it. Must have it. Sorry I disturbed you. I'll leave the door on the latch.” He slipped a fifty-cent piece into the drowsy porter’s hand and let himself out of the front door. Snow was falling thickly. The porter pocketed the fifty cents and closed his eyes. He opened his eyes an hour later, glanced at the clock, wondered if Mr. Mumphy had yet returned, and dozed off again. Jeff Stalvart did not come to the surface until eight o’clock, and then only for a little while. He happened to be lying on his right ear; so, upon opening his left eve, the first thing he saw by the very faint light which fell through the transom above the door was the bottle on the chair so con- veniently beside him. And the second thing he saw was the convenient glass. He reached over with his left arm, tipped a man’s size shot from the bottle into the glass and from the glass into his woolly mouth. He gasped, breathed deep, and sank again. {t was eleven o’clock when the chamber- maid on that floor reported to the clerk that she had knocked five separate times on Mr. Mumphy’s door without effect. The clerk went up, climbed upon a chair and looked through the transom. The mechanism by which the transom was opened and shut be- ing defective, and the sash being stuck mid- way between the two extremes, it was im- possible for the young man to obtrude his head far enough to obtain a comprehensive view of the room. The head of the bed be- ing against the near wall, that article of furniture was only visible for half its length, cConnicloook.