Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

ride of -fysone Me John Frederick Author of “ Cronsroads,”’ “ Luck,”’ etc. WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED DWARD GARTH, reugh, and lacking in the social graces, yet avidly desirous of possessing them, had all but completed the huge dam that was to turn the Chiluah Valley from an arid desert into a smiling land of fruitfulness. And he had brought thither Henry Tyson, of the socially elect, who, according to the agreement drawn up between them at Tyson’s own insistence, was to labor on the dam for six months, depending solely on the work of his hands for livelihood. Garth’s reason was that, as the iron to the magnet, Margaret Tyson, who adored her brother, would be drawn to the Chiluah in due course. For Garth loved her with all the strength of his strong and purposeful nature. — : Tyson’s reason harked back to a day . friendly boxing bout; he promised himself revenge when the six months’ labor would have put him in condition. o : Now, however, on a pay-day, having spent seven of his twelve dollars for two ties, one of them a curious, snakelike affair, Tyson, after paying for his room at Mrs. Casey’s—he did not take his meals there—found himself with but two dollars to last out the week. The odor of cooking rising at his window was almost intolerable. In a fit of rage he made to throw the thing out of the window, when his eye was caught by its sheen. The image of the snake had returned to him again, and, indeed, there was a touch of the sinister in the gaudy coloring of the bit of silk. And there was not much of the philosopher about Henry Tyson, but his imaginatien in New Vork when Garth had worn him down in a had wings. CHAPTER IX. HAM AND EGGS. E was up the next morning with the sun. There were no moments of mis- erable half sleep and half waking such as used to plague him in New York, but as soon as his eyes were open, he was out of bed with a leap, like a horse under the spur. And indeed there was an inner spur for Tyson. Behind him lay a night of terrific dreams. He had been banqueting in his sleep, eating tremendously and drinking vastly, but sud- denly realized that the food did not dull the edge of his: appetite. Vast pasties, mountains of brown, crisp crust surmount- ing inner treasures of meat; sweetmeats; viands of three zones; all these had been stacked upon the board of his imaginings, and yet all of them could not appease his hunger. A terrible sensation! Famine herself had lived in his bowels. The anguish of Tantalus was trebly his. And now that ling. he wakened, there was a poignant reminder that the dreams had not been altogether things of air, for a keen pain lay somewhere in his vitals. Shaving and bathing were the briefest of — morning — the Sabbath > ceremonies this morning when the fortunate breakfasted late and heartily, but early though Tyson was, the cooks in the kitchen below were earlier still, and as he tied his necktie the aroma of frying ham drifted keenly to him. A sharp pain struck threugh the midriff cf Tyson, and his brain spun dizzily. Yet, as he started to rush from the room, his eye caught on the yellow-and-black necktie, still draped over the back of the chair, he caught it up, and ran on, chuck- The necktie was an omen. | On the street below he checked his run to a walk, but such a walk as would have taxed the powers of a trained athlete to keep pace with. And everything about him, the sweet coolness of the morning air itself, }whetted the razor-edge of his hunger. apes This story began in The Argosy for July 3, 64 1OOOLK C©