Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

WORLD BRIGANDS. American.” The man smiled. “I fancy his respected father will attend to him.” After the Scotland Yard representa- tive had taken a cigar and a drink and his departure, Dick had a chance to reflect upon his situation He had fol- lowed the instructions of his chief in attracting the attention of Renée Pré- vost, and so successfully that the French girl gave indications of becom- ing a pest. She had already phoned him twice that day, and was coming to dinner with him that night. As he had been advised to stay in his rooms the dinner would have to be served there. It seemed to him that he had not helped his mission in England by his progress in the esteem of La Prévost. Sir Augustus had already sentenced Roger to Winstut Abbey, and must feel considerable animosity toward the American who had dragged his only son into the limelight. It meant the closing of the Abbey to Dick when he was expected to es- tablish himself there upon a very fa- miliar footing. He could not understand why Sir Augustus had prevented his deporta- tion. Believing Dick a bad influence for Roger, he should have welcomed a chance to get him out of the country. While he would have regretted be- ing sent back to America because it would end his usefulness to the service of which he was a member, if it hap- pened as a result of his obeying orders and through no fault of his own, he would be glad to drop his idiot’s mask and become a useful member of society again. So far as he could see he would be of little use anyway. According to the man named “ Brown,” a descent upon the United States by Europe, be- come predatory, was inevitable; and most certainly could not be prevented by a few unofficial American spies abroad, so the thing to do was to go home and learn how to use a rifle, 235 Why had Sir Augustus, the arch enemy of America, held his hand? Dick could not figure it out. Sir Augustus, in truth, had been wild with indignation when he learned of the latest escapade of Roger and Dick. He had summoned his son and figuratively flayed him alive, and final- ly he ordered him to take the next train to Winstut; then he had used his in- fluence to keep Roger’s share in the affair out of the newspapers. It was a conversation with his editor in chief, Ernest Goring, that caused him to res- cue Dick Boswell. “ Don’t deport the fellow,” said Gor- ing quietly. “ He is valuable to us.” “In what way?” demanded the mag- nate. “We are working upon the public mind to hate the United States. We are telling our people they have ruined England, destroyed business, and are looting our treasury and spending our British money in riotous dissipation. This chap Boswell, not a bad fellow by the way, [ met him at your house recently. Boswell, I may say, is our ‘horrible example.’ “He is a concrete illustration of what we are preaching. This harmless party has infuriated London. My re- porter tells me it was really a mild and not very extravagant affair, but it has inflamed popular imagination. He should be encouraged in his mad ca- reer. Why, every newspaper in Eng- land, with one or two exceptions, has already excoriated him and through him America. To use an American- ism, ‘ we need him in our business.’ ” Sir Augustus burst into a loud guf- faw. “ By Jove, Goring, you are quite right. He is the picture which illus- trates our story, and we must not lose him. ‘The lad is a treasure. I'll put a stop to the deportation business.” And that is how it happened that the man whom Dick supposed to be most indignant with him, saved him from the ignominy of being sent home from Iengland as an undesirable alien. EOPMICLOOOKS (E@