Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

MR. BINGER ‘““ Good Heavens!” he ejaculated. “ T’ve been robbed. My wallet—my money is gone.”’ The cashier’s face froze. ‘“ Robbed!” he echoed, with an ironical inflection. ‘‘ That is really too bad, sir. But of course you understand that we can- not hold the goods without a deposit. Un- less you are able to satisfy us as to your. good faith in making the bid, we shall have to put the bed back into the sale again.” CHAPTER III. A TIME LIMIT. OR a moment Parker was completely overwhelmed by this double disaster. Not only would © — have to report to his employer that he had made a flivver of his confidential.errand and failed to secure the royal bed which Mrs. Binger coveted, but he would have to confess that he was minus the one thousand-dollar bill which Binger had entrusted to his care. If he could acquire title to the bed, per- haps the loss of the money would not be such a great calamity. After all; a thou- sand dollars was not a very large sum to Horatio Binger. In his satisfaction over getting the bed the latter might be inclined to overlook his—Ralph Henry’s— careless- ness in allowing his pocket to be picked. But here was the cashier of the auction- rooms threatening to put the magnificent bit of furniture back in the sale, to be bid for over again, because of Parker’s ina- bility to pay a deposit! It looked very much as though Binger wasn’t going to get that bed after all. And, in his disappoint- ment, the millionaire was not likely to be very gracious about the disappearance of the one-thousand-dollar bill. He would probably insist-on his unhappy employee making good the loss in weekly instalments deducted from hisepay envelope. Perhaps he might even refuse to believe Parker’s story that he had been. robbed, and would call in the police and have Ralph Henry arrested. That thousand-dollar bill must be recov- ered. He must go to the police, himself, and report the loss of his wallet. The BUYS A BED. 347 chances of the pickpocket being appre- hended were not very bright, he realized, but the denomination of the note offered him some hope. Thousand-dollar bills could not easily be put into circulation without attracting attention toward the holder, and perhaps if an alarm were sent out immediately the police might be lucky enough to get a line on the thief when the latter attempted to dispose of his loot. Even if fortune favored him to that ex- tent, however, the distressing fact remained that Ralph Henry had failed to make good on the confidential mission on which he had built such golden hopes. There was no possibility, of course, of his recovering his lost wallet in time to prevent that con- founded bed from being put back into the auction and knocked down to some other bidder. He might save himself from going to jail, but that was about the best he could - expect now—unless this cynical, hard-faced auctioneer’s cashier could be moved to mercy. Parker Straw. ‘“Can’t you give me a little time?” he pleaded. ‘‘ It is most unfortunate that this thing should have happened. My pocket must have been picked on the subway. Every dollar I had with me was. in that wallet. There is: no question, however, about my good faith in bidding on the bed, and if you will wait for just one hour I will try—I will bring you the money.” The cashier frowned and shook his head. “It isn’t fair to ask it of us,’ he said coldly. ‘‘ The crowd is here now. We shall have no trouble in selling the bed over again—perhaps at a better figure than it was knocked down to you for—if it is put back into the sale immediately. But if we were to wait for even an hour, some of our best customers might be gone.” His frown deepened into a scowl. ‘ Be- sides, we don’t know you, sir.. You are a stranger to us. And, frankly, Mr. Mar- kel, the auctioneer, has an idea that you are not—that you weren’t really serious in making that bid.” ‘Serious! I’ve never been more serious in my life. Just give me an hour to. get the money, and I'll show you.” clutched desperately at that Eomichoo (Eo)