Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD. ‘Good. Then everything’s settled. I go aboard and ask to see Mr. Swope. Il talk with him for a few moments, then— Well, then our troubles are all over.” “They'll take your gun away from -you. ‘They'll probably kill you.” “Not likely. Ill take two guns. They can jolly well disarm me of one. But the other I’ll keep under the thwart of my boat.” “What boat?” “Quite right. What boat? Not your boat. That’s part of my plan. I shan’t go in your boat. That would be nonsense. I shall follow you in an- other boat, which I dare say I can pick up under the lee of some convenient ship or other. Then at, let us say, mid- night, you can put off from shore. T’ll follow, keeping under the shadow of any ships I can find. “ But when they see you coming—” “ Now wait! You board the Cape Cod and you can engage whoever is on guard in conversation—perhaps all four, but it makes no difference. Show them your gold. I dare say that ‘ll take their minds off the water for a moment or two. “During which time I'll pull like mad for the old ship. Just to get with- in hailing distance, mind you. Once that close, I’ll announce myself. Very simple.” In her excitement and desperation the girl tried to visualize the conse- quences of this move. It did not sound simple to her. It sounded suicidal. In- stead of having one beloved life in jeopardy, there would be two: her father’s, and this man’s. - “JT can’t imagine it!’ she said. “ How do I know I can keep their at- tention while you are approaching. They will be wary. Warier at that time than any other—” This baffled him for a moment. He paced again. “ H-m, let me see! They will be wary. You say wary. Yes, quite! I dare say. H-m!” ‘Then ab- ruptly. ‘Jove, I have it! They'll be 245 wondering how much more gold you've brought them. What say? That's what Il distract them. ‘Why, dash it all, look here—aren’t they playing an astounding game of chance, just for the sake of more gold? Avaricious bleeders! Why, the thought of gold will stupefy ’em. It’s like hold- ing ether to their nose. Can’t you see that ?” “Then you mean I must go to the cantina and sing?” “Nonsense! You know my senti- ments on that point. You'll go near no cantina.” “But the gold—I won’t have any.” “ Quite right. That’s just what will distract them!” He laughed. “ Can’t you see my point? You'll have no gold. They’ll go crazy. What could be more simple! Moreover, you can send them down to your boat to search for it under the thwarts. They'll be raving! And while they rave I heave to! What could be neater than that?” “But you'll jeopardize your life! I knew it! I knew you'd sacrifice every- thing!” “ Stuff and nonsense. I’m not jeop- ardizing my life. I’m only worried about the old skipper. As for me, Pil take care of myself with those rozzers, As gunmen they’re jolly good harpoon- ers. The outward calm with which he had completely covered up his actual misgivings of the situation was enough to reassure the distracted girl. | His very flippancy was like balm to her. It seemed like a mere flicking of ashes from his cigarette, the incidental way in which he announced: “Tl go and see this Mr. Swope; then our trou- bles would be over.” Her faith in him was implicit. He Was supernatural in his power. He could do no wrong, He could not fail. He was immune to their clumsy fire- arms. She had a deeply rooted con- viction that his life was actually charmed, | “T shall be going,” he said finally. Gomichbooks (E@)