The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

MY PARTNER. , the ends of the wires in his hands, tilted back his chair, put one foot on the switch and the other under the chair leg. As he lifted his foot to throw the switch, Bill saw that it was wet. “ He knew instantly that Jim had wet feet and that a current of twelve hun- dred volts would send him skyward faster than a dose of lead. He tried to shout, but couldn’t make a sound. “He saw the foot move, and as it did so he gave one jump and landed on Jim’s back. It was his intention to tip Jim out of the chair so the current wouldn’t run out of the wet leg into the ground, but he forgot that he had wet feet himself, and the minute he struck Jim it was all over. “Both of them went in a heap on the floor, and there they were found a few minutes later when the other men came to work, ‘ locked in an embrace of death,’ as you fellers often put it. “Now, you see that was a peculiar 303 case. We had to determine whether it was a case of suicide, or murder, or ac- cidental death. Also, just what part Miss Dee had im the affair. ‘But, do you know, she went and married the foreman of the shop in less than a month after the inquest, which goes to show how badly she felt that her two lovers had died. Well, there was some talk of ” The telephone bell rang just then, and we were chased out on a fire story from which we did not return that night. Next day some of us wanted to ask Hank how he knew so much about the case, especially as both men inter- ested died without being able to make an ante-mortem statement, but he did not show up, as he was busy with the main factotum of the office. When we did see him again, he had a new story to tell, and so we never dis- covered how Hank came by his knowl- edge. MY PARTNER. WHEN I with Polly euchre play . She rends my feelings sadly By asking me at each misplay, “Now, did I do so badly ?” She trumps my aces, oft revokes, Nor pays the least attention To what she plays, but laughs and jokes A host such I could mention. She “ orders up” in reckless way, And “passes ” when she shouldn’t ; When I protest at this she’ll say, . *“ Now, Jack, you know I couldn’t !” The trump she never can recall, She asks the score each minute ; Then, much surprised, says, “Is that all ? Let’s hurry up and win it.” You think it strange perhaps that I Should for my partner choose her In lieu of other girls near by, And then should thus abuse her ? To tell the truth, I Polly choose, And vengeful feelings smother, Because with her I'd rather lose, Than win with any other. Robert T. Hardy, Jr. COMM ElOOO CO