Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

The Pirates of Andrus Island passage. They departed laughing and chattering gaily among themselves like children caught at harmless mischief. Only the serang, Kwan-po, and a boy who seemed to be a cabin-steward, remained behind. And Kwan-po soon hustled the boy to the galley, where he could be heard clattering plates and opening tins with a meat-ax. | The man suddenly caught sight of Wade, and stared in puzzled wonder at the stranger. Then, chokingly, he asked: “Who are you, pray? Have the coast guard cutters taken us?” “I—I came aboard at Andrus Island with a friend of mine,” said Wade. “He was killed in the fight, and I’m shot through the leg.” The old man gasped. ‘“Why—lI don’t understand! turned to the woman. all right? right a The woman, in sudden horror, pointed to the after cabin on the starboard side. “Dead men!”’ she groaned. ‘Somebody - has been killed!”’ “Yes,” said Wade. “Salvation Jessup was killed and his mate. That’s Doxey, the man who came with me.” The old man’s jaw dropped, and he stared first at the serang and then at Kwanpo. “Salvation Jessup dead!’ he murmured. “Why, the poor man must be delirious! And no wonder!”’ He got to his uncertain feet and moved across to peer down at Wade’s face. “T’m well enough, thanks,” said Wade. “Not delirious—but ask Kwan-po, they threw Jessup’s body overboard, if I’m not mistaken.” ““You most certainly must be mistaken,” said the old man. “For I am Salvation Jessup, and this woman is my wife.”’ “I—I don’t understand!’’ said Wade helplessly. ‘‘We saw a woman jn a sun- bonnet on deck and Salvation Jessup went ashore at Andrus Island with an organ. He prayed and sang hymns to——” Salvation Jessup nodded sadly. “Of course. I was bound for Andrus when these two men came aboard me at an island just off Palawan’s tail. They wanted passage to Andrus, saying they were left to study birds, and that their schooner had failed to come for them when due. l—” He “Emily, are you There, you are going to be all I took them with me, being happy 173 to help two gentlemen who were stranded on the island. They took possession of my schooner, killed four of my crew, put me and my wife down in an old potato-hold below and went on to Andrus Island. Knowing we were due there, they felt safer to pretend to be me and my wife. So one of the men dressed in my wife’s clothes and was seen on deck. That’s the only way I can acccunt for the fact that you mistook them for us. But how could you fight to rescue us, if you supposed one of the men to be Salvation Jessup?” ‘‘We stowed away,” said Wade wearily. ‘“‘And when they found us aboard there was afight. But who are—were, these two men?” “‘Two of a gang that looted a ship off the coast of Borneo. It was not. until after they had captured my schooner that I remembered they fitted the descrip- tions on a police circular the government sent to me at Labuan, but I had not read it carefully. It never occurred to me that such men would molest me and mine, but it seems they saw in us an opportunity to escape from these waters by taking our schconer. What they intended to do with us, I have no way of knowing, but from some remarks they dropped, I presume we were to be put ashore on some lonely island. Now, praise to the Creator, we have been freed from our bondage and you have, my dear sir, brought us out of Egypt.” “They beat us to it!” murmured Wade, and a queer grin stole over his pain-strained face. ‘Parson, I wish my leg could be fixed up, and I need a little stimulant.” “You shall have all that the vessel pro- vides, my dear sir,” said Salvation Jessup. ‘And, while Kwan-po is attending to you, sir, we shall pray in thanks for our deliver~ ance, and for your speedy recovery.” Four days later, the Gospel Argonaut, back in the bay at Andrus Island, was boarded by an officer from a coast-guard cutter. Wade was recognized, and, to the utter amazement of Salvation Jessup, ar- rested on a charge of murder three years back at Selangan. “Such a pity,” Salvation Jessup told the officer. ‘‘This man, performing an act of piracy, saved my wife and me, though he came aboard with the other unfortunate man with the purpose of submitting us to the same fate or destroying us. The mills of the gods grind slowly, truly, and good may come from evil!” Comicbook C© 5}