Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

ee TWENTY-STICK ISLAND. said, “she was not the maid of any one. And she is not going back. You are the last person she desires to see.” He could see no object in denying her arrival. He had thought that out. The matter could not be concealed and he was not inclined to lie without due cause. ‘“‘ Ah!” said Carter. ‘“‘ Taken a fancy to you, has she? You'd fall for her. You're here by yourself, I believe. And she stayed all night. She isn’t quite as fussy as she pretends to be.” Jimmy had measured his distance, marked the spot on Carter’s jaw where he- He might knock him off the wharf and he might not. *Probably this ‘ex-athlete knew how to box. So much the better. He ached to set his mark along- side of Peggy’s on the cad’s face. He telegraphed his intentions, if not his blow. his face twisted with malice. He had been standing with his hands in the side pockets of his coat. The right cane out holding a squat automatic. “Tm not fighting with understrappers,” he said, his voice thick with rage. The devil of murder was in his eyes, the will and the desire to shoot. “ I’ve got the right to plug hoped to connect. you,” he went on, “for what’s happened- up in that shack of yours. She don’t want to see me, eh? Won’t come aboard? We'll see about that. You face about and march on ahead, storekeeper, right up to the house. If we take her back and don’t hold out on her references, she’ll be lucky. If you’ve got-any idea you’ve been protecting her, or intend to, after keeping her ashore with you, you’ve got a funny notion of keeping a girl’s name clean: Now then, about face, you ex-M. P.” Jimmy’s eyes blazed.. He was powerless. He had not counted upon gunplay. He had a gun of his own, but it was in the house, in the drawer of the table he used as desk. That Carter would shoot and claim he had killed the girl’s seducer, make up any devilish lie he wanted, was certain. Liquor and crude jealousy had made him reckless. They could blacken the girl’s character if she returned to the yacht. Car- ter would see to that. And he had the drop on Thorpe. His finger was on the trigger. -tacle of a defender atthe moment. Carter took ground nimbly enough,” 511 The lust to kill was in his eyes. Jimmy had seen that light before. If he went down the girl was defenseless. He could not use his fists, but he could employ strategy, and his mind evolved a plan. It had its weak places, but it was the best he could muster. “ All right,” he said sullenly. got me coverelt: 4 He turned about as Carter gave a aon laugh. It was ignominious to be seen marching up like a poltroon. Undoubtedly the girl was watching. If only he had told her to stay out of sight! The success of the plan depended largely on her not being in evidence. She might face Carter—or she might have confidence enough in Jimmy, despite present appearances, to let him han- dle the matter, though he was a sorry spec- But he had to get at the gun in his table drawer. That might even matters—and then— “* Cute little trick,” said Carter, back of him, “ You ought to marry her, of course, but TI understand they arrange these affairs easily in the South Seas. Samoa style. But I think we'll take her along with us. She’s tipped her hand off now. Can’t pull any injured innocence after this.” Only the knowledge of the pistol muzzle now and then prodding the small of his back and the odds that any move would leave the girl to the designs of Carter kept Thorpe from taking a chance and tackling him. His rage tingled through his veins until his body ached with suppressed action. And he had his part to play. At the foot of the veranda steps Carter halted him. “ Forgot to frisk you,” he said. still.” Thorpe felt the muzzle of the automatic pressing into his body while Carter passed his other hand over him, seeking a weapon. “All right,” he said. « You needn’t keep your hands up. On you go. = Thorpe raised his voice, speaking distinct- ly, trusting that the girl would hear and take her cue. “ You’ve “ Stand “Look here, Mr. Carter,” he said, hat-' ing himself for the servility he assumed. “ You've got the drop on me all right, but And you won’t find Miss - it isn’t necessary. (EOP KOOKS (E) i