Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

118 would that suit you?” Moore asked in his most solicitous tones. Nonita smiled in an amused way until Moore looked directly at her when she was forced to change it to a smile of regret. “Tm sorry,” she said, “I can’t wait until then.” “Won't you sit down?” he asked, deter- mined to keep her. Moore did not notice that Miss Sand was enjoying his discomfiture. He produced a paper and pencil, and in a most profes- sional manner sought what he considered necessary information. ‘“ Any other sources of income?’ he asked after Nonita had enumerated several. He thought things were progressing nicely, pleased with his astuteness; but ignorant that Nonita was watching him, her lips pursed to suppress a smile. “Let’s see,” she said, and turned to her notes. ‘“ Oh, yes!” she exclaimed i in feigned surprise. have overlooked. They are mostly stocks and bonds and I don’t know what they yield, so you’d better take a list to be able to determine—”’ “‘ Of course,” interrupted Moore. “ There’s twenty-five thousand in Arctic Fisheries, forty-five—” _ Nonita did not finish. A low whistle from Moore’s lips stopped her. He had absently pictured himself receiving a proportionate fee big enough to supply him with a motor, a new office where, in luxuriously appointed appointed surroundings, he could reap—” This was as far as his dream got. Nonita brought him out of it. “ Got that?” she asked, and Moore had to admit his negligence. Nonita eould not go on with the decep- tion. She laughed out loud at the bewil- dered Moore. “ And now, Mr. Moore,” she said, “I came here ‘to look for a job. It’s evident you need some one who can intelligently meet any prospective clients ‘ and as I am temporarily out of work I sug- gest that you hire me. - It will relieve a serious difficulty.” “ Hold on!” exclaimed Moore. say you want a job?” “ Absolutely!” And Nonita told of the events that brought her there. “ You & ‘Hete are some items I must: ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ But I can’t hire you. I haven’t enough money,” he protested. ‘“‘ Nothing less than a partnership will do, Mr. Moore. I'll donate my services with what little money I have until—until we fail or succeed. There’s nothing like taking a chance, and the reason why I came here is because I admired you for the big bluff you were running.” Moore blushed. He protested. let you take such a risk.” “Tt ‘ll be a catastrophe for you if you don’t. What I learned with Bixby will be valuable. How about it?” He demurred at first, but when he real- ized what an asset Nonita would be to him, helpless as he was, he consented, and before “T can’t ‘the paint was dry on the door a feminine hand, steadier and more artistic, changed the sign to read: had MOORE & SAND That addition was what the firm needed. The next few days were devoted to get- ting established. With a capital more than double the original one the’partners could well afford a table, another chair, a rug, several important-looking volumes and a desk set which gave the office a businesslike appearance. ‘They had their sign painted on the directory down-stairs, but this time it was done by a professional, and they contracted for a notice in the want ad col- umns in several papers. So a week passed and no one came near them. “We've got to do something,” Nonita decided. ‘I suggest that as long as clients won't come to us you'll have to go and get them, Sebast.” She was calling him by his rightful and uncontracted given name. ‘But who shall I go to, Nonita?” ““T don’t care—doctor, lawyer, merchant —the butcher, the baker, the candlestick- maker—it ought to be easy enough to hit one of your four million. But be sure and land a big one; pick some one with a large income and I'll do the plucking.” So it came to pass that Sebast went out seeking trade. But everywhere he went he met with rebuff. No one needed him. He GO DOOLK (C@