Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

you must see you can’t stay here. ~§16 force that paralyzed the ganglia, short- circuited Carter’s codrdination. | Jimmy ‘Thorpe slipped away from the failing, collapsing body. Out of his one good eye he saw Carter’s blank gaze, dull and fishy, his jaw slack and the pasty flesh changing to gray. He flashed his right to the point of the jaw, and Carter dropped, face down, bent arms out, done for. ~ Thorpe was trembling with the effort of that last assault,. the pith seemed out of his legs, and = stood weaving, drawing sobbing breaths, a sorry sight, with one sleeve torn away, his white drill spotted - and streaked with blood, waiting for cers. _ tainty that he had done his work. Carter did not move. But Jimmy felt 2 a chair placed back of him, a hand pressing him to its welcome seat. He was vaguely conscious of the near presence of Peggy Dineen and her voice, strangely far off, ordering Faata to bring water and towels. He tried to twist his battered face into a smile, peering up at her. X. THEN he stiffened. There were others in the room. A dapper, short man in whites, with a visored yachting cap bearing the emblem of an owner, stood with legs apart. Behind him were the first mate of the Al- batross and three sailors. _ “Some fight,” said Melville. “ Lord, but that was a whirlwind finish. Two of you chaps pick up what’s left of Carter . there. Have a drink, what’s your name? No? Then give Carter a siug of it.” Jimmy pulled himself together. The thing wasn’t settled yet. He heard Peggy back of him. 3 “This is Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Melville. He gave me shelter last night when I had to leave your yacht, after your friend grossly insulted me. Then Carter came ashore with a gun to force me to go back, which is, I may as well tell you, quite impossible. You have failed to accord me any protection, and I am staying here on the island.” “Ves, but look here, Peggy—=Miss _ Dineen—things have been lax, I admit, but “This chap—er—I mean Mr. Thorpe—has done -be annoyed again. _ plans.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. splendidly, but hang it all—I take it you're not married, Mr. Thorpe. You can see how it is. I apologize, Miss Peggy. You shan’t launch. VU bring her up.” “Yt won’t do any good, Mr. Melville. I have made up my mind. I am not going to return. I shall be glad if you will send off my things.” “But where are you going to stay?” “At the missionary’s home, Mr. Mel- ville, until Miss Dineen makes up her Jimmy was on his feet, still bel- ligerent, his shakiness vanished. “T do not believe Mis Dineen cares to see Mrs. ~ Melville. If you will take your friend back to the ship there will be no necessity for any of you remaining here any longer. I am quite capable of taking care of Miss Dineen’s best interests.” Melville chuckled. ““Egad, Vil say you are!” he said. “ Look at Beauty Carter, ail-star halfback and winner of the Ladies Handicap. What a licking—what a beautiful licking!” Carter revived, supported between two sailors, was a ghastly sight, his nose awry, his mouth mashed and his face more like a squashed beet than a human physiognomy. He tried for a feeble snarl and managed a grimace. “Think it’s funny, do you?” he man- aged. “Tl get even with you, Melville.” “ Maybe,” said Melville imperturbably. There was something likable about the owner of the Albatross, derelict as he had — been in his duties. ce I’ve often thought you'd try to double-cross me some time, and I’m prepared for it- You'll find it ‘Il go fiity-fifty. Take him out of here, you two.” He turned to Jimmy and the girl. ~ “Carter loses, and I think you win, Mr. Thorpe,” he said. “ More apologies to ‘Miss Peggy would be superfluous, and she might consider them insulting. I am sure Mrs. Melville regrets all this, as I do. But Miss Pegey is quite right. with us. We are a loose lot and quite without responsibilities, I am afraid. You may blame it on the war—and prohibition. We are post-bellum products. | ' “As for the missionary ” his eyes, hazel brown and not so evil as reckless, Mrs. Melville is in the She doesn’t belong cS Eomichoo CO