Adventure, November 1915 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

The Gold Lust “Well,” said Addams, as Tuan Yuck paused, “I don’t yet see the object of the visit.” “T think you do,” said the Oriental. “T think you do. Let us reason it out. Here is a treasure—three-quarters of a million dollars. You claim it, basing your claim principally upon the fact that you know where it is, gaining your information from a man who, in conjunction with Henley’s father, buried it, after stealing it from some unfortunate miners. “Tn a way, you condone the robbery by taking, or attempting to take, the treasure. But Henley’s son, as‘a direct legatee, has a claim at least equal to yours. Both the elder Henley and Fellowes were rascals. In my philosophy, which applies merely to the - span of my own existence, I see no reason why I, learning of the treasure and being appealed to by Henley to finance and play executive to his expedition, ‘should allow you to stand between me and my share of the money—particularly as I happen to have the force majeure. Through Henley’s sister I have an accurate description of your arma- ment and the personnel of your crew. I assure you it is in no way PORRPEISE, com- pared with mine. “You have a cook and a couple of hatchet- men aboard—” he looked contemptuously at Ah Sing and his fellows, who stood forward, watching the discussion — ‘while I have fourteen excellent gunmen—to say nothing of Henley’s riff-raff, who will fight well enough when primed with whisky and the prospect of gold. “We both have a woman aboard. They are of different fibers “You can leave all mention of Miss Win- ton out of the talk,” broke in Addams coldly. “As you like. I merely wish to point out where you stand. As Henley said, it’s four to one. I am willing to take a sporting chance. Turn over the gold and you go clear. If you think it worth while, you can inform the authorities of the—outrage. They will not find us.”’ “Do you think,”’ retorted Winton, “after all you’ve done and tried to do to us, that we are going to stand by and calmly turn over the gold to that set of lawless raga- muffins you’ve brought with you?” “‘Tawless’ hardly applies in this case, Mr. Winton,” said the Chinaman blandly. “Law rarely applies to the possessors of 63 sufficient wealth. Gold makes the law. And, as far as that law goes, I intend to ad- minister it. If I thought my men would agree to giving you some share of the treas- ure as a recompense for your trouble and expense, I would agree to it. As it is——” He spread his arms in the Oriental equiva- lent to a shrug. “Is that what Henley meant by coming to terms?” asked Addams. ‘“‘T am making the terms!” answered Tuan Yuck. “Do you agree to them?” ‘““As far as the gold is concerned,”’ said Addams, ‘‘you are welcome to it.” A questioning flare shot from Tuan Yuck’s opening eyes. gif you can find it,’ went on Addams. “T can’t.” “What do you mean?” asked the China- man, his voice harsh with suspicion. Addams shrugged his shoulders. “You’re welcome to look for it,’”’ he said. “T have—all last night. You'll see where we dug for it, according to Fellowes’ in- structions, in the cave on the other side of the ridge there. Perhaps the old man blabbed of it. Some one may have fore- stalled us, or Fellowes may have dreamed it. Henley will tell you he was half crazy.” He spoke carelessly, while Tuan Yuck watched him with narrow-lidded, calculating eyes. “Tt naturally wouldnt be in the cave if you already had it aboard,” said the China- man. “Tl give you my we of honor it isn’t,” answered Addams. ‘You can look, if you want to. As for the caves—there are six of them. I searched the one it was supposed to be in. I’ve made up my mind it isn’t there. If you want to, you can search the vessel. It’s easily overhauled. There’s no hold. You can satisfy yourself in ten min- utes if you think it will save a row, though, to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind one. The score’s against me so far. “One thing I’ll promise you,” he went on. “The first one of your outfit that touches this deck will do it lying down, and he’ll not get up again. Also, he will have com- pany. I'll leave you the island to scratch to pieces. We're going to leave on the next tide.” Tuan Yuck’s imperturbability seemed to have been pierced by Addams’ nonchalance. A film seemed lifted from eyes that looked venomous as a snake’s. (e) NOOK (C@ im Jer ~7 we Po ~ "tee i a, a a a : » S. Se eons, ie (heh 4d. oS BA ot es a i ie a Tae ae aed ae eae CT ee ay” Beeler ee, Oe om Aig lt BIR BR rp ae eee TTS? MLE Pee FA Pry