Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

144 _ “ And how was that?” the boss was grow- ing impatient for the denouement. .“ Wait! It came over me just like a flash, and like a flash I spoke. I said: “Mr. Ornstein, this is all your fault. Only yesterday you .refused to .keep Mrs. Graham’s wedding-ring, but lent her the ‘money instead. Now both Bessie Barns and I knew that even that five dollars wasn’t enough, and we wanted to get some more money for Mrs. Graham.’ And, if you will believe me, Mr. Thatcher, I didn’t have to say another word! In fact, I couldn’t. There were so many other words being said. “ But, believe me, this time, they were “all kind words—the kindest you ever heard | for me and Bessie, for trying to pawn Jen- nie’s ring to help Mrs. Graham! The po- Jicemen let us go and started a collection fer Mrs. Graham. “Jennie threw herself on us and slob- bered all over us, and took her wedding-ring and her five kids and beat it! And mother said I was the best girl in the world—and Jimmie looked at me as if I was a saint. And, in spite of all that, Bessie tried to say, no one heard her—her voice was too faint, and after I had pinched her half a dozen times she decided to mind her own business. Now, I suppose you’re going to tell me I told a lie—but I didn’t, for I never got a chance—I just started to suggest one, and left the rest to their imaginations.” “T am not going to tell you anything of the sort,” replied the boss, sincerely, “ you had a right to save Bessie from the con- ‘sequences of—of, say, Jimmie’s obstinacy.” “ That’s what I say,” exclaimed Maggie, triumphantly, “‘ but I’m glad you see it the THE ARGOSY. way Ido. And after that we started around to give Mrs. Graham the policemen’s col- | jection, Jimmie carrying it, and sort of hang- ing back behind the others with me. And when we got to the corner I says to him: ‘ Jimmie, let me add the five dollars Orm- stein gave us for Jennie’s ring.’ And Jimmie stands stock-still and says: ‘ Have you got that yet?’ And I says ‘ Yes,’ and he says: ‘Then we'll take it right back to Ornstein,’ and then, well, then, Mr. Thatcher, I began to get really mad, And without thinking — almost—what I did—I tells Jimmie the whole truth, and how I’d pawned that ring to get me the lawnyett he was too mean to give me. ‘““And, Mr. Thatcher, you never saw a man’s face get so many colors. First, it was gray and then green and then purple and then very white, and he says: “ Ex- cuse me a minute,’ and off he goes. ‘Well, of course, I thought he was going to call the policemen back and have me arrested, after all—and I was all for beat- ing it. But ma said no, that she knew human nature, and that Jimmie had a noble nature. . ‘“ And as usual she was right. “Back comes Jimmie inside of about three minutes, smiling.and very humble and meek—and he hands me a parcel and bows just like I was a queen—and I opens it— just like one. ‘“ And there was the gold lawnyett.”’ Maggie paused and drew toward her the shining object on the desk. She pushed the spring and raised the glasses to her bright eyes. “Tt was worth nearly getting arrested for, wasn’t it?” she asked ecstatically. ENTIRETY ACH drop of the tossing waters, No matter how small it be, Mirrors the mighty ocean And globes in itself the sea. So every heart compresses, Hides—like a drop of the sea— Holds in itself the thundering Tides of humanity! Louis Ginsberg. 9 ‘ARGOSY, Co DOOK ANG ©