Adventure Magazine Cover — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

106 CHAPTER X THE TOY GIRL =e) EDDON was up and about the | oem | deck all night looking for wind, and pausing now and then as he Bars} passed by chairs and pallets Wherpeople struggled for air in their dozing; and he glowered into their faces, hating them; this night hating himself. He couldn’t have slept had he tried. Being in one of his black moods, he had got out a bottle of brandy, drank half of it, then threw the half-full bottle overboard by way of show- ing contempt for stuff that made his thoughts grow blacker. When such dark moods as this came upon him, fight them as he would, still he must remember his youth, his home, the proud name of his family, the hope they had put upon him, and all the good things in the way of worldly honor and manly worth that he had forsaken. It hurt at such times to look himself in the face and see.that he was a wastrel; and he cursed himself bitterly for the fool he was and would always be. This night as he paced the deck, leaned moodily from the taffrail, or sat with great loneliness in shadows on the big chest by the galley, the Devil kept near his side and whispered of evil things it would be worth while to do for the chance of treasure: Pelew was dangerous, but could be readily forced into a quarrel; the pirate Chinese would, without doubt, somehow try to keep the earrings and such taken from the heads of men he had killed—but trussed up like a prisoner and knocked about a bit if need be, he would be helpless—and generous? With both pockets full of gold one could return home and be pardoned the past; for much is forgiven the prodigal son who comes home leading his own fatted calf. Heddon listened long and with wavering temptation to these dark whispers that arose among his thoughts; then he said sud- denly, aloud, with savage finality— “Oh go to i? II "EEAY LAYEEN ate in the deck- house cabin, alone. He was there in sight of anybody who cared to pass through or look in; he ate with chop-sticks, slowly, meditatively, and was served by Woo Lung, who, like all busy persons, had GORDON YOUNG time for! everything. Though the meals were frugal, T’eeay Layeen sat at the table with a lingering air of leisure, and apparently would not have troubled himself for something better, even if it could have been had for the wishing. Heddon came in. T’eeay Layeen offered a cup of tea by way of showing that he was friendly. Hed- don sat down, reached out with both hands ior the cup, and waited while T’eeay Lay- een, being gracious, talked of many things, one of them having to do with the ship, before he raised his cup. Then Heddon noisily gulped down his tea. The China- man gazed at him for a moment, then in- quired if there was something that Heddon wished to bring to his unworthy attention. Heddon twisted about in his chair and looked to see if they were alone; the doors that opened into the cabin were open, and any one within the rooms could hear; but it was breathlessly still and hot, and people sat about on deck, trying to doze and gasp- ing as if in a stupor. Heddon asked— “low much faith have you got in the word of a foreign devil?” T’eeay Layeen looked at him inscrutably, then answered— “None.” “In that case,” said Heddon, “I can lie without deceiving you.” The Chinaman seemed to smile appreci- atively, and bowed slightly but without low- ering his eyes. “It just occurred to me about ten min- utes ago,” said Heddon, eying him in- tently, “that this island you’re taking us to—if ever again we get a touch of wind—is likely not to be uninhabited. How about it?” ‘“‘No one,” said T’eeay Layeen, very slow- ly, “is there. You ask it, why?” “Well sir, I'll tell you. And you can think it lie or truth, just as you feel about it. ButI’da sight rather there were a thousand or so of your pirates on the island than not!” T’eeay Layeen expressively, but without speaking, inquired why; this with the merest movement of his eyelids, and he watched as if watching not for Heddon’s words, but for the hidden impulses that put forth the words. “You want to know? Well, this is where you will think I’m lying. If you had the COMICLOOokKS C© 5}