Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

tt}, Se pe protect us. Maybe I’m all wrong, but after you hear, you can tell better than any one ee It’s about the Monroe Traction bill,” ventured Peabody, with gleaming teeth and a fatherly smile. : “ How did you know that?” she cried, startled. “Pm sort of a mind reader,” he con- fessed, “ and, besides, I’ve been keeping my eyes on things. That's why I’m here.” “ Well, you are right. I’ve tried to find out how Amos was going to vote on that bill and he refused to tell me. He was real cross about it—the first time he’s been cross with me since we were married. He said I must mind my own business and not mix in politics. As a matter of fact, I don’t care how he votes, but I’m anxious about him. My friends have been telling me that no matter what he does he will be sure to get in wrong. What does that mean?” The innocence with which she asked this question, with upturned eyes, made Pea- body Smith Jaugh. He was sorry the mo- ment he did so and spoke to her gently. “ That’s a political phrase,” he explained, “ and it means that he will place himself in a false position. But whether he does de- pends entirely on himself. What else do you hear?” “T was also told,” she continued, with the air of a child making a confession, “ that Colonel Hartman had chalked my husband’s hat. I don’t know what that means and I was ashamed to ask.” “Tt’s mere political lingo,” said the detec- tive, “and you have no reason to be ashamed of your ignorance. To be brutally frank, it is the business of Colonel Hart- man to get votes for the Monroe Traction bill. If necessary, he pays members to vote for it. Sometimes a member votes for a bill voluntarily and the lobbyist claims credit for having won his vote. In other words, he ‘collects’ for having influenced that vote. That’s what they mean when they Say his hat has been chalked. He is un- _ Conscious of the fact that some unscrupu- __ lous lobbyist is using his vote as a commod- ae Do you get the idea?” enny Briggs flushed, and involuntaril put her hands to her face. A : / THE ADVENTURES OF PEABODY SMITH. a SP 2, (ae O. Pear oe ant : m 4 =. is ~ . ae « Oh, isn’t that perfectly d ea afraid that Hartman was engag underhand business. And the mean pé it is that he is using his former quaintance with me to injure my hushé I’m perfectly sure that Amos is as h est as the day is long, but 1 am alr that Hartman will try to get him in whé you call a false position. I met him a lit while ago and he asked me to tell Am that he was coming to see him to-night. don’t know what to do, and that is why came to see you.” aS “My advice is to let him see : It can do no harm and it may some good. We will catch this rat in < trap.” nee “ But I dread the publicity.” a AB Peabody Smith did some quick thinking He looked Jenny Briggs in the eyes. “Mrs. Briggs,” he said finally, “I he perfect confidence in your husband just ¢ I have in you. That meeting must te place. Your husband should have a wi ness, because Hartman would swear to am thing. Let things take their course, < I'll guarantee that there will be no public —at least, none of the kind that you drez He walked to the door with her and t to reassure her, but she went away ve much distracted, and wondering if sk — (a 7 £ : eae * BH; At eight o’clock that Briggs sat at a little desk in the living of their apartment, industriously writing His wife, not far away, was engaged some fancy lace work. She looked ; anxiously from time to time, and whether she dared speak of the Traction bill and of Colonel William He man. She had not told him of Hartn intention to call, and she was wonder she had made a mistake. Some went to the movies together, a there, she was hoping that he pose to go and see a picture too late, and if he happenec course of their lives. Je pretend to be a philo es ae ~ S pps ay ets. be 5 2) 4 4 VEINS ATL