Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD-DUST RAJAH. ‘In revolt,” concluded the latter. ‘‘ How he’d like to put her in what he’d call her place. But he doesn’t dare. Hm. I wish I knew what he was in limbo for at S’pore!” Underneath, as Lansdell had guessed, Barker was boiling. Now, not caring to come into open disagreement with his young employer, he turned his rancor on Lansdell. “I’m afraid you’re going to find yourself a bit too busy to come up-river with us,’ he asserted; and gave Wray a sidewise glance that mvited the Jatter’s cooperation. But Wray’s blue eyes opened wide in astonishment. ‘ Good heavens, man!” he ejaculated. ‘‘ Don’t put any busy ideas into Lansdell’s head! We want him! We need him! You know Malays, right enough, but not one of us here knows Dyaks. What are vou talking about, Barker!” His look was direct and extended: puzzled, too, as if the other man had somehow swung Straight about. Barker laughed a little drunkenly as he picked at his fruit salad. And there was a swift interchange of glances between uncle and niece, after which her cheeks took on the deep rose of anger, and her lips trem- bled, as if she were about to add something to the short controversy; but she thought better of it, and turned again to Lansdell. “JT suppose there are some interesting personalities among the Dvaks,” she said. ‘“‘T mean when one comes to know these people intimately, as you must know them by now. There are rajais, aren’t there? and sorceresses? and other queer char- acters?” “ Bigamists, you mean, my dear?” in- quired Wray. ‘“‘ You left them out.” “T once asked a headman about their marriage customs,” replied Lansdell, “ and he wagged his head sadly. ‘The Rajah Dinda,’ he told me, ‘ has six wives to scold , 9) him. At that Barker laughed loudly, but stayed hanging over his plate. ‘ The old beggar’s right,” he asserted thickly. ‘“‘T suppose cannibals are a thing of the past,” observed Marcia. ‘“ Though I'd give a, lot to see a real one.” Lansdell smiled. ‘“ You shall have the experience at the very next kampong,’” he promised. “ There’s an old ex-cannibal there 2A 817 —a chap who says he ate the long-pig when he was a voung rajah. His name is Ma- bong.” At that there was a general movement about the table. Barker stopped eating, and lifted his head. Wray involuntarily turned toward him, nervously blinking his blue eyes. Marcia put down her fork and leaned forward to address Lansdell. ‘““Mabong in the ext kampong?” she asked incredulously. ‘*“ You’re on the very edge of his terri- tory.” Now it was plain that Barker was an- noyed. ‘ Ain’t you mixed up a little on the name, Miss Oldham?” he asked, not looking at her. She did not answer. “ Mr. Barker told me that Mabong was away up this stream,” she went on, speaking directly to Lansdell. ‘““T feel certain I’m not wrong about the name, because down river, where we took our praus, one of the sailors on the Sabra told me that this Mabong was supposed to be very rich—supposed to have a great quantity of golddust buried under his house.” There was a moment’s silence that had in it something electrical. During it, neither of the other two men glanced at Lansdell or at each other. As for their host, he avoided Marcia Oldham’s eyes, fearing that his own would betray the thought that had sent his heart up into his throat. Presently he was able to speak carelessly. ‘“Golddust under his house?” he repeated. “T doubt that. You’re going to be dis- appointed, Miss Oldham. I’ve seen him. He doesn’t look like a rajah at all. He’s a ragged old chap, and what he needs more than anything else in this world is a good soaping and a scrubbing.” She did not smile. ‘Now, that gold Story?” she persisted—whereat Barker shifted himself impatiently in his chair. Wray was also plainly annoved. But she went on: ‘ You’ve heard it, haven’t you? You don’t think it’s true? And you’re quite sure Mabong’s as close as you say?”’ ‘““He’d never dare bury gold under his house,” Lansdell answered. ‘“‘ With so many Malays down below who’d be bound to hear CO GIOok