The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

10 He’s one. of the coming literary lights, by the way ”—and he told me the name under which his relative wrote. “ He’s turned out one of the successes of the year—a political novel.” “Well, P’ve got to find some work,” T said, more interested in my own case than in his private affairs. “I was in hopes you were a carpenter,” I added with a laugh. “ Didn’t know but I might get a job in that shop.” “You might. Tell you what I'll do. You hang around until we get our ‘g. n.” from down-town—‘ good-night,’ I mean—and then I'll take you to my lodgings, and you can arrange to-mor- row for a room there. Ill stand for you with the landlady. You might as well have a fair start.” “You are more than kind,” I replied gratefully. “Oh, I consider myself ahead of the game even at that,” he chuckled, as he paid our score and we left the restau- rant. “Now you can go back with me and wait in the shop——” “Tl look about a bit,” I said hastily. “T’ll turn up there later.” “ All right. I guess you'll be safe not to lose your roll to-night,’ and he laughed as he hurried away. I followed him back as far as Thirty- First Street. The address the beggar had given me was uppermost in my mind, and I was determined to see the strangé fellow again and learn if pos- sible what he meant. The number he had mentioned was a good bit along the street, and the street itself was not very pleasant. The sort of people I passed betrayed only too surely the status of the neighborhood. But I could not see how I had any- thing to fear. When the address proved to be a rather dingy looking saloon in the middle of a block, with a grimy side door opening into a badly lighted hall, I hesitated only a moment. “Here goes, anyway,’ I muttered. “They can’t eat me up, that’s sure.” I was thankful to find the bar almost empty, for I was not desirous of attract- ing attention. The man behind it wasn’t a bad sort, for when I preferred my re- quest—that I had come to see the Arm- less Wonder—he nodded me to a seat by a little round table at one side and went Gougle THE ARGOSY. through the swinging door into the back room, evidently to call my strange acquaintance. _ The voices and laughter which came from the rear told me that quite a party were gathered there, and I was glad that I had not to face the ribald crew. Ina moment the bartender returned, and be- hind him appeared the face of the beg- gar. But I must admit that it was only his» face I recognized. He came swinging into the room with a grin on his smoothly shaven features and the stump of a cigar stuck in one corner of his mouth. His expression was entirely the re- verse of that which he had had while sitting humbly against the house wall on Thirty-Fourth Street. And, most astonishing fact of all, he possessed two very well developed arms, and a pair of hands which looked quite capable of doing a good day’s work if they were only given a chance. I stared at him. He certainly was a “ wonder,” whether armless or not. “T say, Dandy,” he said to the bar- tender, “bring the gent an’ me some beer. This is my night for blowin’ me- self. I had a good day.”: I thought to myself that I should never put faith in a crippled beggar again—that is, not until I had made an anatomical examination of him. “ Ye look knocked all of a heap, mis- ter,” said the young fellow, laughing. “ Yow’re a hayseed, sure enough. But I kinder liked your looks, an’ I t’ought to meself, ‘If [kin do the guy a good turn, an’ it ain’t costin’ me nothin’, I’ll do it” You got it in de neck for fair this after- noon.” “My experience wasn’t very pleas- ant,” I found breath to say. Then I asked: “ But how do you do it? ” “Do what?” “Why, hide your arms, and—and change your face so?” The bar-room was empty but for the white aproned attendant, and he was reading the evening paper with his head buried in his hands. With all the agility of a snake squirm- ing out of its old skin, and with much the same contortions, I believe, the Armless Wonder slipped his arms out of