Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

£ She'll sink in no time. You'll be back Fs a few weeks, and then—your wedding- ay.” But the captain still fought feebly. ‘“‘What about my ticket?” “They won’t touch it. How can they? ’Taint your fault if the cargo catches fire. The crew will only be too eager to get clear. You'll probably be a hero for not losing aman. You know just where to start things. And afterward you'll get my best ship, you know. And, yes, I'll let you take your wife to sea with you. Chances are that, if you don’t take this offer and get some*money, she'll marry some other man. Z And you know it.” Williams did know it. And he remem- bered vividly an unpleasant scene of the P. previous evening when the lady had taunted him about his lack of ability td make 4 money. She wanted a diamond ring, which his scant savings made impossible. And here was five hundred pounds going begging. The job was easy enough. And in six weeks, at the most, he could be married, get a better ship with more pay and take her to sea with him. That last pulled hardest. ‘‘What are the terms?” he asked gruffly, not looking at Silas. “Fifty pounds down and the balance when the job’s done. Your pay increased two pounds a month from today. And, of course, no lay-off when the Psyche sinks.” Still the captain hesitated. He loved : ships and felt not unlike a prospective murderer. Indeed, this sentiment weighed more on the moral side than did the chance - of being found out. But, then, Silas, old scoundrel, would get another man to do it | unless he did it. dthe girl, ss « | Williams got out of the chair. Re “Tl let you know tomorrow,” he prom- ised and went to see the lady.” . He saw her. What chance had his scruples in her presence, that had been weak enough in the office of Silas Ruther- ford. For sailors are really myopic about B the rights of insurance companies. Then, r their last parting still in his mind, he , greeted her with— “How would you like a fifty-pound diamond ring?” “You darling. How did you do it?” “T didn’t say I’d got it. I just asked you how you’d like one.” : She moved away from him; + Adventure a valuable ship and cargo? This was 0 be “ “You know I want one. D it clever to talk that way. to think of marrying a man too buy a girl what every other e has, without him making a joke You’d be ashamed if you had any.” And a cloudburst settled the matter, A little later, after he had promised to buy the ring next day, she again asked “ he —_ ok money. told her of his raise of pay, the best ship, permission to take his wife—did oe aan eae lady was—and invented a savi unt of long duration to account for the ring. But, if a man must sell his soul, why not for kisses? For has any philosopher yet pore them to be worth less than pieces of silver? Il SO A few weeks later Captain Williams walked down the rocky, dog-smelly street of a tiny Spanis i fishing village, the stars looking at him from : a windy sky and his mouth gritty with curses. It was after midnight, and, but ; for spasmodic barkings and the moan of . the flood tide, the place was quiet and i \ a ee, sleep-suggesting. But Williams could not sleep. Indeed, he doubted if he would ever sleep again, for his thoughts were a roaring cyclone that would not still. So he had left his bed in the smugglers’ retreat of an inn and gone down to the shore. . And everything had looked so bright. ; Things had gone just as he had planned. The Psyche had caught fire in six places and shortly afterward slipped to the bottom of the sea without making much fuss. Ten hours in the boats—Williams had been favored with a nice fair wind—and all hands had been safely landed. Then, the news cabled to Silas, the captain had waited for orders and congratulations while he arranged for the crew to be sent home by the distressed seaman’s route, By rights he should have gone with them, - but his conscience had gathered to itself all manner of intangible fears, and he had decided to wait in the village. Then Silas had replied to the cable—by letter, to save . money, And with the letter from Silas . — had come another. ; The old man had been abusive. Why ed =. 7) d ee | # y # * ale al 7 o~ - ~ €Comicbooks.com = ~* re = % :