Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

PEMBROKE’S PARTNER. “ Window-cleaning!” I echoed, staring at him in astonishment. ‘“‘ You’re. not— you can’t be serious!”’ My partner assured me that he was thoroughly in earnest. ‘“Tve been doing some figuring,” he said, picking up a sheet of paper filled with numerals from his desk. ‘“ I have come to the conclusion that there is a small fortune in it. Please don’t interrupt for a minute, old man.* Let me have my say,” He smiled whimsically. “TI quite expected that you would go up in the air when the scheme was first sprung on you, but I feel confident that I can convince you that it is a thoroughly practical and satisfactory way out of our difficulties. : “You remember that little Italian we met the other day, Bob?” he continued. “The chap who used to wait on us at Paletti’s, and who told us that he was ‘making more money now than he. had ever made in his life—by washing apartment- house windows. Fifteen cents a window, he said he charged them, and his services were in such demand that he couldn’t take care of all his customers. You remember that, don’t you?” a Ves of course I remeniiet it, but—”’ . Fifteen cents a window!” McIlvaine repeated, without giving me a chance to | finish. ‘“‘ Just think of it! And after a little practise it couldn’t possibly take more than five minutes to do a window. Fifteen cents for five minutes’ work. That’s one dollar and eighty cents per hour—fourteen dollars and forty cents per day. And only half an hour ago Berger, Underwood & Berger offered you thirty dollars per week to take charge of their corporation, surro- gate’s, real estate and trial work!” “But—” TI began again. ‘““ Don’t you see what a profitable venture it would be?” he went on, quickly. “ And the beauty of the plan is that it wouldn’t interfere with this business. The firm of Pembroke & MclIlvaine would remain intact. Of course one partner would have to attend to all the work here in the office while the other was out on his route, but we could get together evenings and—”’ “Have you thought of the prestige it would give to the firm if I happened to 535 encounter one of our clients on the street while I was hurrying along with my little pail and step-ladder?” I managed to break in, with withering sarcasm. “ Leaving aside my ewn feelings in the matter, Mar- vin—which, of course, aren’t to be ccn- sidered—do you imagine it would make a great hit with the Westland Vacuum Cleaner Company, for instance, if they should happen to learn that one of their legal representatives was applying his knowledge of Blackstone and Kent to the polishing of window-panes? How long do you suppose we should continue to have their business after they made that pleasant little discovery?” - “They wouldn’t know,” he argued. “ We should take pains, of course, to keep the thing secret. I’m no snob, but I realize that the dignity of the profession has got to be maintained. It might even be neces- sary to resort to some sort of disguise. I dare ay that could be managed easily enough. “Y’m no snob either,” I shot back an- grily. ‘ But, hang it all, man! There are some things at which I draw the line, and this is one of them. This nice little job you’ve picked out for me, doesn’t quite ap- peal—”’ “T haven’t exactly picked it out for you,” he interrupted, emphasizing the last pronoun. “ We shall draw lots, ef course, to decide which one of us remains here and which one goes-out to clean windows. ‘That’s only fair.” “But we have already tossed up—and I lost,” I said, somewhat mollified by his explanation. ‘That doesn’t count,” joined. “ This is an entirely new arrange- ment, and it is only just that we should take equal chances. I'll not pretend that the loser is going to have the pleasant end of the bargain, but—after all, it will be honest labor, and it will make it possible for us to continue in business together. To me that is worth any personal sacrifice. He took a ten-cent piece from his pocket. “If you’re willing, old scout, we’ll decide the thing right now.” I hesitated for a moment; then shrugged my shoulders. (S| QO) nn NOOLK Mclivaine re- -