Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

CLOTHES FOR A WEEK. pree was worried. From time to time he looked at Jack. His brow wrinkled, pro- ducing a weird effect because of the round- ness of his head, and an egg-like baldness. “There must be something I can do—”’ he complained. _A second course succeeded the first. ‘Then into Jack’s head popped an idea so bizarre that he chuckled aloud, and Dupree brightened again. “¢ You—you have thought of something I can do—”’ he suggested. | ‘¢ Have you any one closely related to you whose clothes I could wear?” Dupree smiled. Perhaps he had noticed Jack’s attire, after all. ‘ You will not ac- cept anything, but if you could borrow some clothes—”’ “Tf I could just get decently outfitted for a few days—” Jack became enthusias- tic, and in his enthusiasm adopted the other’s mode of expression: “If I could look like something for only a week— _ I’ve got to meet people I used to know to get started—and I’ve got to loaf around the Astor and the Knickerbocker and the Chem- ists’ Club until I bump into something—”’ ‘Then his smile faded. Of course, it would not be as easy as all that. Dupree, however, leaned forward on the table. ‘I’ve got a nephew living with me, and yow’re about his size, Mr. Wells ”—a verifying glance—“ he’s out of town, and I’m leaving to-morrow for a week, and ”— suddenly eager—‘ suppose you come to the apartment to-morrow morning and make yourself at home and wear John’s clothes for a week, and—and get your start—I'll be repaying you—”’ ‘‘ But you can’t trust me that way!” On second thought it seemed an imposition. Jack could not put himself under such an obligation. “Our man, Oscar, is an ex- ici At that Jack laughed. “Oscar will take care of- your ere you mean!” Dupree nodded. He would take no re- fusal, and it was finally arranged that Jack should live in the rooms and use the nephew’s wardrobe for just exactly a week. Oscar would select and put out the neces- sary things. Jack spent the night in a cheap lodging- 285 house and the next morning met his bene- factor by appointment. The rooms were not in the West End apartment, but in a new building on Fifth Avenue in the Seven- ties. Oscar, to all outward appearances, was a mild-mannered individual. Before Dupree would leave them Jack had to out- fit himself, to see if everything was all right, even to the fit of the shoes, the latter being the correct length and just a shade too wide. Then Dupree drew Jack aside and pressed a roll of bills in his hand. ‘“'You—you’ll need pocket money as well as clothes, Mr. Wells, and this—this is a loan— Jack for a moment was 1s nonplused. Then he looked the older man in the eye. “ Why should you take this interest in me? Why should you go to all this trouble?” Dupree laughed. He radiated delight. “You have no idea of the service you were to me the other night.”” For once his voice didn’t trail. Jack started out, but he did not go at once to his old haunts. He found a quiet place for a bit of breakfast and a chance to think. The last of his own funds had gone for a shave, a clean collar, his room, and the stitching of his torn shoe—a bit of repairing at which the shoemaker had shaken his head dubiously.. He needed the breakfast, but most of all he wanted to think; to decide on a plan. What was Dupree’s game? There was always the hypothesis that he was a crimi- nal, engaged in something in which he hoped to involve Jack, but that Jack dismissed. Intuitively he felt it was wrong. Yet there was a mystery, unless Dupree was a miracle of gratitude. Clad from head to foot in immaculate clothing, he felt a different man. Whatever the motive of the other, it was Jack’s chance, and he proposed to take advantage of it. First he went to the Chemist’s Club, and it seemed as if the gods were with him. Hardly was he in the door, receiving the surprised welcome of several of the em- ployees whose terms of service went back beyond the four years, when Stevens, a young contractor, rushed up and seized him by the arm. “ Jackson Wells! The very man I want DOOK (©