Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

THE BIG IDEA. him when he heard his voice. It was one of those soft, curiously intoned, effeminate voices; Jimmy had never heard one before. ‘Damned sissy,” he thought. “ Yes,” he answered. He smiled—as friendly a smile as he could muster. ‘The secretary did not smile. He came through the little wooden gate and stood facing Jimmy, who had risen to meet him. Jimmy had decided to tell his idea to Mr. Hope; now that he saw him, he decided he wouldn’t. A sudden despairing courage made him decide at the same instant to see the president himself. It must be possible to work it some way. “TI want to see Mr. Wentworth—Mr. Robert G. Wentworth,” said Jimmy firmly. ‘What do you want to see him about?” Jimmy hesitated. “ That’s what I’m going to tell him when I see him,” he said finally. “ Mr. Wentworth never sees anybody ex- cept by appointment.” “Tm in no hurry,” cheerfully; his courage began coming back. This Mr. Leffingwell Hope, after all, didn’t seem so very formidable. “I'll make an appointment, then.” ‘Tf your business is important, Ill hear it now.” The secretary turned slightly away, as though he were being unneces- sarily detained from important work in- side. “ Tell it quick,” he added. ‘“ The young lady says you don’t represent any one. What is it?” Jimmy’s anger flared up suddenly. He put out his hand and gripped Mr. Leffing- well Hope by the arm, turning him’ around until they were again face to face. “Say, listen, you—you don’t under- stand.” He tried to keep the anger out of his voice; and 'when the secretary shook off his hold he let go promptly. ‘“ I came all the way from Menchon, Pennsylvania, to _ see Mr. Wentworth. And I’ve waited over a week. It’s an important thing—it’s something he will be glad to hear.” ‘All right, then—tell it to me. If it’s important, I’ll ask Mr. Wentworth if he’ll see you.” “TI won’t tell it to you,” Jimmy said doggedly. “I won't tell it to you or to anybody but him.” 2 9) VES Se Jimmy grinned oo ‘Then I guess you won't tell it,” said Mr. Hope, and turned back toward the railing. This time Jimmy was really angry. He took a swift step forward and again seized the secretary by the arm. “Look here, you—you’re not giving me a _ square deal.’’ ‘Take your hands off me,” said Mr. Hope evenly. Evidently he was not a cow- ard, for there was no alarm in his eyes. Jimmy released the secretary reluctantly. ‘You're not giving me a square deal. You tell Mr. Wentworth I want to see him, and see. what he says.” The sécretary looked Timmy over: from head to foot. “I don’t know what your game is, young man, but I think you’re a damn fool. Ss “Tf you didn’t think so ated you'd get along better,” Jimmy retorted. ‘“ Will you tell him I'm here or won’t you?” Instead of making Mr. Hope angry, this seemed to strike him as amusing, for he smiled. ‘If you’ll give me some idea of why you want to see him, and why he should He his time to see you, I'll tell him, yes.” A flash of inspiration came to Jimmy. ‘You tell him I know a way to make glass that will only use one-quarter as much coal for fuel as he uses now. That’s im- portant enough, isn’t it? And tell him it won’t take me five minutes to explain it, either.” Mr. Leffingwell Hope looked at Jimmy as if he thought the visitor was insane. Then he smiled again his nasty smile. “ All right,” he said. “If he’s not too busy I'll tell him exactly what you say. And I don’t think he’ll be interested in the least.” “T don’t care what you think, so long as you tell him,” said Jimmy; and he sat down on the bench again to wait as the secretary departed. Mr. Leffingwell Hope revolved this ex- traordinary interview in his mind as he went back to see his employer. A great curiosity consumed him to know what it was this remarkable youth from the coun- try had to say, so that he almost hoped Mr. Wentworth would see his unknown vis- itor. cComicloool C@©