Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD-DUST RAJAH. next world. It seems quite close to me— always. It’s been like that ever since I was a little girl, As if I could step across something, or, maybe, througit something, and there I'll be! So, if the Dyaks free my soul from my body—”’ “Don’t!” he pleaded huskily. ‘I can’t bear the thought, and as I’m going to fight to keep it from happening, we don’t have to torture ourselves. So let’s keep our minds off the idea.” ‘“T don’t agree,” she answered. ‘ Now, if ever, is the time to think of death, Philip. Of course, this is a strange place to come to our end in—this wilderness, among savages. I never thought it ’d be like this. But I suppose it doesn’t really matter where the change happens.”’ He laughed, choking. ‘ You’re a won- der'’’ he declared. ‘‘ The average girl’d be in a dead faint, or almost out of her head with fear. And here you are, calmly talk- ing it over. I'll sav you’re a steady one!” She shook her head. “Philip, I’m steady because I don’t really believe—yet —that anything’s going to—to hurt us. I can’t even think that the—the others are— gone. My mind refuses to grasp it. May- be I haven’t lost hope, or I haven’t got any imagination, or—er my brain is dulled.” She put a hand to her forehead. From a pocket he took two of those long, needlelike phials that were wound with scarlet paper. ‘‘ Here!” he said. ‘“ Take one, Marcia, and sleep again.” “No.” She straightened and backed a step. ‘ No, Philip, thanks.” ‘Sleep the way you slept in the praz,” he begged. ‘‘ And trust me to—”’ “Ves, leave everything to you,” she said. “I won't do it. I’m not going to let you sit this out alone. If I keep my wits, I mav be able to help.” “But it might help me more if I knew you weren't suffering—if I could bargain with free hands.” “No.” She put up a hand. “ Don’t urge me. I did it before because I thought it would help to get you and uncle away. Now I don’t see how it can help—if I don’t get in your way. or take up your attention by falling ill. Your hands are free, Philip. Go ahead with any bargaining.” 841 “Then do this: Take two of these pel- lets, and keep them in vour left hand, where you can find them when vou want them. Open your palm. Let me show you what I mean.” She obeyed, and he placed two of the tiny, black, seedlike globes on one of the lines of her moist palm. ‘ Now, close your hand,” he directed, “and you'll find the pellets will stay right where you’ve put them until they’re brushed off. Don’t take them unless I tell vou, of course.” ‘“T shan’t.”” She shut her hand. “T’ll do the same,” he declared, and placed two more of the dark globes in his own left palm. ‘“T do feel more—well, sort of reas- sured,” she said, ‘ having these here. Be- cause, after all, maybe I'm not so afraid of dying. I think of father, and hope to go to him, you see. No, I’m not afraid of death. I’m just—just afraid of the way they'll take to—to kill me.”’ Her chin trembled. He could scarcely answer.- ‘“ Pshaw!” he laughed, choking again. ‘ Thev're not half as fierce as they look. They'll think twice before they do anything of the kind. They caught the others looting, you re- member. I wasn’t in on that. I can testify that the Dyaks were justifed in what they did. You know, the authorities won’t be slow in looking into this matter. That's what they’re probably discussing right now. Just wait until I’ve put the business up io them straight.” ‘“But don’t—don't fight them,’’ she begged. “I don’t want them to get so angry that they’ll take vou, and leave me.”’ ‘Not by a good deal! Nota chance!” ““T'd hate that worse than death.” He patted her hands, smiling and leaning toward her. ‘‘ You've got tne medicine in your fist, haven’t vou?” he reminded. “Well, then, don’t worry.” “ But the medicine will only make me Sleep for a while.” “ Two of them will make you sleep for a good long while.” ‘““T see.”’ She opened her left hand again to look at the little grains, barely discerni- ble in the murky light of the torches. ‘They must be powerful.” “Very. I’ve sent some home to a couple (CO) MICLOOOL