Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROARING sudden dread, for the scarlet burgee was entwined with the lanyards. Mary knew the significance of this. With the same idea Nat burst out: ‘“* Hello—that’s bad! ‘The house flag all tied up! An evil omen!” With more than casual impatience Mary stamped her foot. “Oh, why, why can’t some one go and loose that flag?” The peeved tone was not lost on Ger- tridge, True, he could not climb aloft him- self; but he could do something better— he could show his authority. Near by, a tall, trim young fellow of quiet demeanor was superintending the job of jacking up the backstays. Tapping him on the shoul- der, Gertridge exclaimed: ‘Just go aloft there, my man, and un- furl that flag, will you?” ‘““How many jobs do you suppose I can do at once?” was the caustic reply. “You don’t seem to know who [ am. Well, I’m Nathaniel Gertridge, Jr.” “And I’m Richard Dunbar, with some- thing else to do besides amusing you. If you want that flag unfurled, do it your- self.” “ Oh, yes, do, Nat!” urged Mary, quick to catch the irony of this suggestion. Nat cast on the girl a reproachful look, but she had no eye for him. She was gazing intently at the other person, in dirty dungarees. Blessed with keen perception, she missed nothing; his well shaped head was set on the long, lean body of an ath- Jete. There was something clean cut about this stranger, both in face and form. At the girl’s appraising glance a reticence came over Richard Dunbar. Then with sudden decisiveness he sang out: “ Here, get on with this job smartly now. I’m going aloft.” Mary noticed the curt, crisp tone of the officer class. He might be clad in overalls, but there was no mistaking the birthright to command behind.that incisive order. Nat often boasted of those who did his bidding. But here was one who could both command and do. Swinging lightly across the main ratlines, he started upward, with the lilt and swing of one accustomed: to the poetry of motion. FORTIES. 493 Gazing after, Mary saw him dancing heel and toe through the buttock shrouds. Into the topmast crosstrees he raced with un- diminished speed. As he advanced he took unto himself spiderlike attributes. With bated breath, Mary beheld him climbing across the skysail yard; then, ap- pearing scarce larger than a fly, he began to shinny up the main truck. Attaining the capping ball, holding only by his legs, with hands free, he rapidly disengaged the twined-up flag. For a moment it hung limp, then, caught by a puff, beat out with pride against the breeze. While Mary still watched Avith fascina- tion, Richard Dunbar started to descend. Putting his feet in the royal backstay, he came flashing down on deck. “Who is that boy?” inquired Mary. Nat’s reply was-a disparaging remark, muttered to himself in a surly manner. Mary repeated, ‘‘ Who’s that boy?” But still Nat remained incoherent. The splendid Gertridge control had ut- terly forsaken him at the sight of Mary’s amazing interest in this unknown first of- ficer of the Valkyrie. | As Richard Dunbar vaulted lightly into their midst, after his dashing exploit aloft, Mary felt her blood tingle while the crew began to cheer. The girl’s eyes were filled with a light of deepest admiration, which made Nat Ger- tridge furious, since he knew that that light was not of his kindling. As if to tantalize her consequential es-— cort still further, without considering any of the proprieties of an introduction, Mary rushed up to Richard, exclaiming: “Oh, that was simply wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.” As their eyes met there was a moment of dramatic silence—a moment in which each seemed to be oblivious of all else. Then the girl continued: ‘ You know we don’t want any more bad luck aboard Valkyrie, do we?” “No; and we certainly don’t intend to have any more bad luck aboard this clip- per,” he answered. ‘““ How do you knov we won’t?” broke in Nat, with a surly growl. Richard did not deign to answer him, but Eomichbooks. co