Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

26 he proved that this evening,” I said rather warmly. “ That's easy enough—but, don’t you see there’s too many men in it? Before we could get word to the others and have the thing understood, we'd all be riddled like a sieve—and that wouldn't be pleasant,” added Jake with another grin. “T admit the difficulty, but by keep- ing your powder dry and making a be- ginning, no harm and much good may be done in time.” | “Tl have a talk with dad in the morning, and it may be—though there ain’t much chance for it—we may bring the old woman round. I’d havea good deal more hope if it warn’t for that dead hoss.” The young man was in a mood where nothing was to be gained by further urging, and I switched off again: “ Jake, would you like to earn five dollars? ”’ His gray eyes sparkled. “Wal, I rather guess I would.” “You see that stamped letter lying on the table? I’ll give you five dollars — to take it to McVeyville and mail it tomorrow for me, and I'll pay you now.” He brought his chair forward with a bang, turned and stared at me. “Do you mean it, pardner? ” By way of reply, I fished out my wal- let and handed him a bill. “Wal, I'll be hanged!” he ex- claimed, gingerly taking the money; “T never earned anything so easy in all my life; Pll start now if you want me to.” “ Tomorrow will be time enough ; re- member you will have to walk there and back.” ‘““A dozen miles each way—that’s nothing—humph! But I'd rather you'd wait till I mailed the letter and sot back before you paid me.” “T shall do nothing of the kind.” I stepped to the table, picked up the bulky envelope and handed it to him, remarking : THE ARGOSY. “This is a secret between you and me.” ‘“ Don’t you worry about that.” * Put it in the inside pocket of your coat and keep it there till you reach McVeyville.” He took the letter and glanced fix- edly at the superscription as if to show me he could read it, but Jake did not deceive me, for he held it upside down. “ All right,” he said, shoving it out of sight; “that letter will be mailed at McVeyville tomorrow before noon, if I live to reach the place; I'll start as soon as I can swaller a mouthful of breakfast and a cup of coffee, and say, pardner,” grinned Jake, “ if you’ve got any more letters to mail at half them rates, I’m yours to command.” “There will be no cutting of rates, and I hope to employ you a good many times.” “I say, pardner,” he added, drop- ping his voice to a husky whisper and leaning toward me, “ you’re one of them chaps that writes things for the newspapers, ain’t you? ” “Since I can trust you, Jake, I will own up that I am, but that’s another secret between you and me. I don’t intend to write anything but the truth and no one should object to that.” “No one does except infarnal fools and them’s the very folks you’re going to write about. I say, pardner, you hain’t got me in there, have you?” he asked, shaking with silent laughter at the thought. ‘Yes; I refer to you, but say noth- ing that would displease you, for I couldn’t say anything else and still be truthful.” It took the young man a minute to grasp the whole length and breadth and depth of this compliment, whereupon he grinned and again tipped his chair back and crossed his legs. I had gained a faithful ally and de- termined to use him for all he was worth, which promised to be a good deal. The munificent wages I offered had secured his devotion, beside which _ eco