Argosy All-Story Weekly, 4 February 1922 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

= ‘| as ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ae ee = obedience to orders, William Vander- ly meant to be insulting. Young Biddle — 4 001 Biddle had come to Hobart to stay for stepped backward, his feet embarrassed by quite awhile, although he began to be un-_ the luggage pile. Not until the smelterman es certain whether all the Consolidated Cop- had grinned his way from the station plat- per millions were worth the price. He had form could young Biddle recover his wits 3 = quite unhappy when, upon inquiry sufficiently to remember that he owned, at _ from the conductor of the narrow gage, he least in prospect, the very ground on which had learned that there was no train leav- the ruffian stood. Then it was too late for = _ing Hobart until the following day. effective repartee. He addressed the sta- 2 = tion agent with firm intention and as much S30 - William Vanderpool Biddle looked about dignity as the circumstances would permit. ites hopelessly—and coughed again. The “Will you please tell me who.that man station agent was busy; the train crew may be?” = _ ‘were busy; the only idle individual in sight “Name o’ Kowalski,” answered the a was a very rough specimen garbed in the agent. “ Sort o’ straw-boss with the smel- _ cinder-scorched overalls of the smeltermen, ter gang.” a _ who looked with amazement at William’s “ Thanks,” answered William, who could : baggage. not help feeling a little superior. “I shall 2 “T say,” said William, addressing the have the pleasure of meeting him again. idle one. Then again, with emphasis, “I Baggage will be safe here, I presume?” - say— “Sure,” the agent answered heartily. 2 The smelterman, huge, uncouth, a quite William might have been mistaken, but he impossible person, turned, regarding Wil- was a little uneasy, not certain that there ie liam with cold, blue, fishy eyes. was not a suppressed grin on the freckled 3 — “T say, my good fellow,” said William face of the station agent, too. “I shall 3 most politely, once again, “could you di- send a conveyance for my things this after- a = rect me to a good hotel?” noon,” said William, with increase of dig- The good fellow looked at William, up nity. Then, unbending momentarily: ae and down, from shining boots to nicely ‘Seems to be quite an interesting place.” = creased felt hat. William bore the scrutiny “Sure,” said the agent. There was no With patience. The man spat deliberately, mistake about that grin. 2 = shifting an enormous cud of tobacco in his William stepped from the platform into a a Saspe He seemed very stupid. the road which spurted little geysers of ___ “ Well?” asked William, ever patiently. fine red dust, destroying the resplendent S = “ Naw,” answered the good fellow with polish of William’s boots. The sun was a = ae a surly grin. He slouched forward, brush- glaring hot on the barren mountainside. ing the astonished William to one side. William’s face was red; the fresh collar as- — * But I say!” exclaimed William, grasp- sumed just before arrival, already wilting, oo ing at his hat. Anger succeeded his sur- became uncomfortable about his throat. ec “prise. “Look here now!” William He kicked at a chunk of crumbling : _ reached out a detaining hand. brown and yellow rock that nestled in the 202 _ i The smelterman spun on his heel with road dust. This failed to relieve his temper, *, - astounding swiftness for one of such bulk but did hurt the kicking foot, and practi- and seeming awkwardness, Thick neck cally ruined the half of a pair of thirty- hunched into massive shoulders, he thrust dollar boots. He drew a deep breath, and : _ a smoke-grimed face within a half a foot coughed again. Twice in one morning Wil- = of William’s own. William glimpsed an liam Vanderpool Biddle, of Broadway be- = Es uneven row of brown-stained teeth beneath tween the Thirties and the Fifties, sought s a ragged yellow mustache. . surcease from annoyance by saying = “TT tal you naw! You want I tal you “ Damn!” = pe teioet"ing aa now, heh?” The station agent waved a mocking hand = = There was no mistaking the intention of at the retreating back. “ My dear Mr. ——S “A «thi pera, ae a He a ee: said that wag in joyous es od ee = e§ a f —s el ~~, 2 ~ a Jo Sa Pa _< = — = Die ie