The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

284 day mav come when you will treat me with more respect.” “T trust you will deserve it,” he said. “But now good day. The president of a bank cannot afford—you understand -—to have a = “¢ Jailbird,” I added as he hesitated. “ Er—ves—in his office.” Smitten with a fecling I had never known before, a feeling that indeed every man was my enemy, my sinking heart beating with an anguish no pen can describe, I left the bank. Thus far Mr. Jarvis was correct. CHAPTER X. A MATTER OF FOUR MILLIONS. My determination to succeed in find- ing honest employment kept me con- stantly traveling through the great city. My little hoard of money was spent as judiciously as possible, and I never ate in the middle of the day. Every night Jarvis would ask me how I had succeeded. There was a young man who fre- quently came to see Jarvis, and one evening it suddenly occurred to me that whenever Jarvis had asked his usual question, and I had given the same dis- couraged answer, these two would get together and have a lengthy conversa- tion. And during one of these whispered talks I overheard Jarvis say: “ Wait— another day—he ain’t quite ripe.” Whether it was myself to whom he referred I did not know, but the young man, whose name was Burt Wilson, glanced toward me with an impatient expression. Late that night Jarvis and I sat smo- king. “ Merrill.” he said, ** ’ve wanted to talk to you for some time, but what I - had to say was of a nature that required vou to he in a receptive mood—is that what they call it? | ain’t quite the gen- tleman I was once.” “(Go on,’ I rejoined, nodding. He leaned toward me and touched my knee. There was a peculiar expression on his face I did not like. “Sav, Merrill, what do you think of Christian New York anvhow? ” fore gle THE ARGOSY. ° “T have not tried it,” I said with a grim smile. “ It has no use for me. Nor has the business part of New York ap- parently.” Jarvis laughed, as though my answer pleased him. “See, I told you!” he exclaimed. “Give a dog a bad name and—you know what happens. You’ll never suc- eeed where your name has once been heard. And yet, by thunder, in this very place, where the money-mad hyp- ocrites downed you, is where you ought to vet rich.” “I'd be content at present to earn a living,’ I said. “But look here—I’m going to tell you something. We’ve been pretty good pals, eh, Merrill ? ” “I know you have been very kind to me.” “Worth a little friendship, eh, Mer- rill?” “TI feel much for you, Jarvis.” “Now, let’s look this thing square in the face. You see me? When you went to Sing Sing I was a prosperous man. J injured nobody. I was a gam- bler in a fair game. They’ve ruined me and my business. Darned scoundrels who would rob the orphans whose es- tates they managed, yet snivel like fools in a church, hounded me. “TI turned, like every dog will turn, and I’ve showed my fangs. You’ll have to do the same. Don’t you suppose that sneaking money grubber, Elsmere, has posted you in every enterprise in which he has an influence? ” “T suppose so,” I said. “You bet vour life. You are being hounded worse than I was. I know for a fact that the police are keeping an ac- count, or record, of your life. Now, Merrill, hike you. And if you are will- ing to work the racket together we can make money. “ Burt Wilson is a good fellow, but he is young and not cautious enough. But he can act. He’s a good one for doing things. Now listen. I made up my mind that the city that hounded me to povertv owed me a living, and that I was going to take it.” “In what way?” “In any old way I could. Now, with vour nice polite and educated manners, {” EO DOO AC 5 SS) (GO) Ul