Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

TWENTY-STICK ISLAND. twinkled—“ you will of course conduct the -young lady there. I would suggest that you induce her to return with you. * To the brave belong the fair. I presume the rev- erend gentleman is qualified to perform all the ceremonies of his office. Your things shall be sent to you immediately, Miss Peggy. We are leaving inside of an hour. I have the honor to wish you both good morning and my sincerest wishes for your mutual happiness.” With another chuckle he went out, his men with him. The room was quiet. my was wildly revolving the hint that Mel- ville had flung out. hurts healing at her touch. Faata com- menced to set the room to rights. the first to speak. “Plenty trouble you~ give ‘that man, Missa Toropi. White Mary she hear you speak along you take her milikant. She speak along me to talk all the same. He call me cross-eye, dog face! Eyah! Plenty I fix him. Too much plenty you make him finish. He think I take his tale (dollars). AH same I put in stove. No good, that white pig!” Ministered to, still tongue-tied, Jimmy stood up. “Vl change my things,” he said. *“ Down at the store. I'll be back. The launch has gone off.” He teft with his thoughts whirling. How was she going to take it? He had fought for her. ‘‘ None but the brave,” Melville had said. Was it possible that she would marry him out of hand? Quite, if she felt as he did. If she didn’t, things would be difficult. He would have to be very care- ful. She had her pride. She might think he wanted to marry her because she was up against it. If he could only make her see how he felt about it. What wonderful luck it would be for him. He got into fresh clothes and patched himself up a bit from his medicine chest, though he shrank from a second look in the glass. His consolation was the fact that Carter was in worse shape. Jimmy had broken his teeth and smashed his nose. He had- taught him a lesson that would last jim- Peggy, her face rose — red, started to bathe his face with careful and gentle efficiency. Jimmy fancied his~ She was - after Jimmy’s own eye resumed normal color and condition, But—what a face for a wooer! | As he went back to the shack he + saw the launch putting off again. The smoke was pouring from the yacht’s funnel. She was ready for sea. In haif an hour she would be gone, and Peggy and he would be alone on Twenty-Stick, save for the mis- sionary, the third leg of a triangle that might be made an inclosure for a magical happiness—if only— The room had been straightened up as best it could, pending repairs to the table. Peggy Dineen was at the window watching the incoming launch. She turned to meet him gravely. “Tis idle to try and thank you,” she said. Then with a smile: “It was a won- derful fight. He was heavier than you. You were very brave. tiene might have shot you.” There was a little tremor in her voice that was music to Jimmy. She might care. — “T had te take a chance,” he said. ‘Your things are coming in, I imagine.” “Yes. Lsuppose so. Zs there a mission- Jimmy colored, She hurried to offset his embarrassment. “YT didn’t mean to doubt you—but—” “Yes. there is a missionary. But—he is a bachelor—like myself.” “Oh!” She drew back from him, star- tled, considering the situation. “T can’t stay here,” she said. jJimmy’s aching face fell, XI. THE launch came up to the wharf. Tubi, ordered by Thorpe, was waiting there. He was handed out a steamer trunk from the boat, and, swinging it on his broad back, he came up the wharf, the path, the steps, and deposited it on the veranda. Then he came in with a face agrin. “ Fhis for White Mary,” he said. “This ” was a letter addressed to the — girl. She took it apathetically. '“ The balance of my wages, I suppose,” she said. The embarrassed silence repeated itself. Jimmy felt the precious moments im Eomichboo SS com