Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD-DUST RAJAH. Wray went on. “In seven days I fancy Miss Oldham and I will see about all there is worth seeing along this river.” ‘‘ You've seen all there is worth seeing already,” was Lansdell’s blunt comment. ‘“ The river doesn’t change an iota for more miles than you’ll care to have your boat- men paddle. High up, of course, the stream narrows, and gets dirtier. As for the kam- pongs, one’s mighty like another.” Barker broke in, turning the conversa- tion. “‘ Mr. Wray’s a crack revolver shot,”’ he announced. ‘“ And I’ve promised to give him a bit of deer hunting.” Wray had a new subject. He faced about on Lansdell, ready to cut the latter off from any more questioning by asking a few things on his own account. ‘ What do you do up here when you get sick?” he demanded. ‘No doctors, no hospitals, nurses and so on. Nothing, I suppose but the simple remedies.”’ “T doctor myself,” Lansdell replied. “I was just about ready to take a degree in medicine when I came out here, so all my training in that line stands me in good stead. These savage people aren’t as healthy as one might think. Back in Amer- ica it’s fashionable to talk about the simple life, and the great outdoors, and so on. But neither seem to keep the Dvak free from disease. It's surprising how disease gets them—fevers, and other tropic troubles.”’ “T suppose you dose ’em a bit, eh?” Wray asked. ‘“ That must have a good deal to do with vour popularity.” Lansdell made no answer, again resent- ing that tone of raillery. Now other nearby verandas were crowded with natives, all on a level with his own, and all silently keep- ing watch of the three white men. He turned his head from side to side to look at them, and in that look was both father- liness and affection. Barker popped up his head once more. “ Ever go higher up for your doctoring?” he asked. ‘Sometimes I’ve gone as far as a boat can go,’”’ Lansdell said. ‘“‘ Usually, though. thev bring the sick down to me. It’s easy going in a boat, and they have the patient here to hand, instead of merely a request that I go to him.” 815 Barker turned himself over with an ex- clamation which Lansdell could not hear. ‘““Oh, you're jist the chap to take along!” he called back, and began to hum to him- self as he swung. He did not trouble to rise when Marcia made her appearance—in a dress of some soft, white material, simple and cool-look- ing, the costmue completed bv a large, colorful fan. At her appearance, even those natives crowding the nearby verandas broke forth into exclamations of wonder and ad- miration, craning to stare at her. ‘“ Ny dear!” greeted Wray, on his feet at once. ‘‘ Do you hear ’em? Youre like some great goddess from another planet! Perfect furor, I call it! Don’t blame ’em, either!’’? Gallantly he kissed her hand. In her long gown, half housedress and half lounging robe, she seemed tall to Lans- dell, and he told himself that she had shot up in these last three vears since he had seen her. In the old days he had taken as little notice of her as possible—this be- cause of the pride in him that had forbade his seeming to be too cordial to a girl whose future inheritance promised to count up into the millions. “ But she’s unspoiled,” he told hiinself now. “ Level-headed, too.’ He liked her composure, and the quiet, effective way she had of waiting a moment before expressing her opinion. It was this which made her seem older than she was. But the almost babyish curves of her throat and face made it certain that she was still under twenty. She turned her clear, gray eves toward Lansdale. Thev were full of meaning, and not a little mischievous, but her voice was casual. ‘ You don't get lonely up in this jungle, Mr. Lansdell>” she asked. ‘“T’ve had my share of loneliness,’ he admitted, ‘but not to the extent of being a hardship. And I’ve had a lot of interesting experiences. That might not count with a woman. It does with a man.” ‘It counts also with some women,’ she answered. ‘It explains why I’m willing to have some discomfort. I mean to see the whole world, if I live—all of it, even the out of way places.”’ ; “Your Uncle Dudlev will show it to vou. darling,” broke in Wray, with a smile which An CO GIOok