The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

THE OTHER TRENT. “T’ll wait for you there,” Hallock agreed. In due time Trent was relieved by a new sentry and marched back to the guard quarters in the armory. He laid aside his rifle and cartridge belt and went out to keep the appointment with Hallock. ‘‘ Let’s go somewhere where we can have a little drink and talk it all over,” Hallock proposed as they met on the corner. - “T prefer to stand here; I can’t spare you much time, and I don’t care to go far from the armory,” was the blunt response. ‘““Have it your own way,” agreed the other. “I have come to see you, Mr. Trent, to show you that I am really your friend.” “We shall not need to get sentimental about it, I hope,” said Trent dryly. ‘“‘1’m dead serious, though,” Hallock as- sured him. “I can do a lot for you, if you'll only listen to me. You’re probably wondering what I gave you that letter for. You’ve had time to read it over a couple of times and think about it, and now I want to have a little talk with you.” “Tf you don’t use up all my time with preliminaries,” said Trent, “ perhaps we may have a little talk.” ‘‘Of course, you know I’m employed by Judge Waring and that he is employed by Hartley Stuart Trent,” Hallock began. “ Well, sir, I have done a heap of work on this case—trying to put you down and out, and all that—but I can tell you that there isn’t a lot of profit for me in it. I’m get- ting a little bit sick of the job, and it’s about time that I put in a little real work for a young man named Frank Hallock.” “You are still on the preliminaries,” Trent objected, “and I warn you that the meeting will be adjourned very soon.” “Why, Vil get right down to business fast enough,” said Hallock. ‘“‘ Now, Mr. Trent, why don’t you sue your millionaire namesake for damages?” “Why don’t I buy the New York Cen- tral Railroad?” laughed Trent. ‘“ Any good, bright shyster lawyer would take the case for you,” argued Hallock. “‘ Not if I saw him first,” returned Trent. “Vou see, I should want the money for damages for myself, in such a case; not for the good, bright shyster lawyer.” 99. ‘You're pretty near right at that,” Hal- lock agreed amiably. ‘‘ Well then, you go ahead and get a lawyer that will suit you. Show him that letter I gave you, and he won’t have any doubt about making a case for you. And then—this is where your friend Frank Hallock comes in—then I'll agree to stake you to a little money for ex- penses. I’ve got a little bank account, and I'll take a chance on it. You sue him for fifty thousand—that isn’t too big, or too little—and I’ll agree to appear as a witness for your side. “Tl tell old man Waring that I’m tired of crooked business and am going to quit him. If you get a live wire for a lawyer, you ought to get at least twenty thousand out of the suit—and for helping you win it I'll agree to settle on a fifty-fifty basis.” Trent broke into a hearty, ringing laugh. ‘That’s fair enough, Lord knows!” ex- claimed Hallock. ‘ You couldn’t win the case on that letter, not in a thousand years; but with my testimony to help you out, you’ve got a cinch. Why, don’t you see? I’m staking everything on it myself. I'll quit old man Waring cold, and throw all the cards on the board. That’s how sure I am! There’s twenty thousand in it, if there’s a cent—and fifty-fifty is fair enough!” “It’s about time I looked into the armory; there might be something inter- esting there,” said Trent. Hallock caught him by the arm. “Don’t always be a clam!” he cried. ‘‘ A man owes it to himself to have a little thought for his future. I suppose you feel pretty fine to be independent and cocky, and refuse a fortune when a man. offers it to you, but you could feel even more pride in beating the man at his own game—pull- ing out your fortune by fair and square legal methods.” “Only lawyers believe that legal methods are fair and square,” remarked Trent. ‘I may as well tell you, Mr. Hal- lock, that it won’t pay you to waste any more time on me in any manner. I] am tired of bothering with you, and your em- ployers may as well give up their game as a bad job. I am occupied now in military service, and no doubt I shall be until the oO Comicbooe S CO