Argosy All-Story Weekly, 4 February 1922 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

> i) a a) yl 7 if 7" t Sh ) " ik ASAI - 2 - However, he reacted quickly to the sting, retainmg some measure of composure, “Rather soon, that, don’t you think? - Take a little time to get located, y’ know, and I thought I’d have a little shooting be- fore I got nose to the grindstone—all that sort of thing.’ “T’ve heard there are a few jack rabbits on the flats,’ Hanley commented dryly. “Don’t know; never investigated for my- self. _My instructions are to offer you a position on your arrival.” Hanley re- frained from adding that in the drawer just beneath his elbow were a number of other instructions not intended to strew a carpet of roses on William’s path. “Matter of fact,’ continued William easily, “I’m not sure that I'll remain at all; really don’t care for this place, y’know. Just about decided to draw on the governor for the necessary, and toddle back.” “ My instructions,” Hanley observed yet more dryly, “ would not cover the matter of a draft.” William flushed. More impudence! Beastly place was full of it! He was pre- pared to retort hotly to this shot when a shadow passed across the dingy window. William stepped forward, pointing a finger toward the yard where a grimy workman sauntered toward the buildings whence the tram-cars came. “ There he is now—that fellow, Kowal- ski, y'know! Might call him in and have ~~ it over with!” Hanley turned in his chair, looking in the direction indicated by the pointing fim- ger. A little smile twitched at the corners of his lips. The change in his manner to- ward William was slight; not less polite, only a trifle more decisive. “ That is unfortunate. Now, if you had chosen some other of our Kowalskis—” “What!” cried William. This was un- believable! “ But the man insulted me, y'know! TI must insist, under the circum- stances—”’ “Under the circumstances,’ Hanley ex- plained patiently, “ discharging this particu- Yar Kowalski would probably mean the shut-down of the smelter for an indefinite period. He is one of our most efficient foremen, and in addition is secretary of the > - ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. local union—a man of considerable: influ- ence, with power to call a walk-out at any time.” “Then I take it you refuse my request, absolutely!” “ Absolutely!” Hanley was rapidly los- ing patience with this young man. “In business personal feelings do not count.” * T shall appeal—” “Your letters are ready now, Mr. Han- ley!” . The atmosphere of the private office, rapidly approaching the boiling-point, sud- denly fell many degrees with the intrusion of that cool, crisp voice. Superintendent Hanley’s retort was never to be uttered. William was conscious of an impression that the dingy room had suddenly been bright- ened by a glint of sunlight, freshened by the coolness of an errant breeze. The impression was identified with the entrance of a girl, young, attractive, clothed in a businesslike costume of blue serge. Her hair appeared to be an abun- dance of tarnished gold; her hands, extend- ed with a bundle of letters were white and smooth. Her profile, William saw, was cleanly modeled—and there was the tiniest possible smudge of the all-pervading cinder- dust to draw attention to the rose and white of a perfect cheek. When the girl stood beside the superin- tendent’s desk, Hanley rose politely to his feet. “Miss Ames—Mr. Biddle,” Hanley in- terposed. ‘ Miss.Ames is our very efficient secretary. She is the encyclopedia of the Copper Butte.” Miss Margaret Ames smiled charmingly, in. acknowledgment of the compliment. Her teeth were very white and even; her eyes deep-shadowed and transparent-blue. She extended her hand to the great man’s son without a trace of self-consciousness, murmuring the usual platitudes. She noted in turn that he was rather a nice looking boy, but registered instant objection to the air of petulance not wholly vanished from — his face, and the unseemly much-too-tail- ored appearance of his clothes. ‘7 am sure,” Hanley continued smoothly, “that Miss Ames will be pleased to tell you anything you care to know about Cop- SS) i. Eomicboo . all