Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

EVERY MINUTE COUNTS. “ Huh?” mouthed Richard. “Why, Vane, do you writhe at hear- ing in plain words what you already know so well?” “Well, one—one reason is that I don’t know it so well!’ Richard ex- ploded. “In fact, I don’t know it at all! And, coming right down to cases, I think you’re—’ “No, Vane, you don’t really think that ‘I’m crazy, or anything else but disconcertingly accurate in my guesses,” the colonel assured him. ‘‘ And all this puffing and hand-waving is cheap, you know, and not very pretty. Upon my word, I'd like to know that you were man enough to stand up and tell me the truth about this thing!” “What the Sam Hill’s the good of telling you the truth, when you won't believe any of it?” Richard demanded wildly. ‘“ What’s the use of my—” “There, Vane! There! Enough of that!’ Bragg said, and his smile now held only pure contempt. “I think the interview is over now, Vane. We un- derstand, do we not?” “Maybe you do; I don’t!” cried Richard. “I think—” The colonel’s fist came down with a bang. For the moment he seemed uite angry. = oe eathed fool!” he said. “What on earth can you expect to gain by that pose of righteous indig- nation? You can’t possibly deceive yourself. Certainly, you cannot de- ceive me. ‘The interview is over, I said.” “Well, so far as that goes, having it over suits me fine!” said Mr. Mel- ton. “ Only—” ‘““ And—oh, yes, just one thing more. We shall have to keep up appearances to a certain extent, for the benefit of the servants and of possible callers and so on. “You will continue to be Mrs. Brageg’s secretary; and, while keeping it most clearly in mind, you will also ostensibly forget this little conversa- tion, Vane,” the colonel. concluded, d09 with his very smallest smile, and indi- cated the door. ‘ That’s all.” Which it was, by Heaven, so far as concerned Richard Melton! That rather shaken young man turned on his heel and strode out swiftly—for, some- where in the house, a little clock was tinkling out the hour of ten! He had taken too long in dressing—he had used up too much time at breakfast! Fairly wheezing his emotion, Richard made for the garden once more. Take her with him! Take Gwen with him! Why—why—the whole old- fashioned garden was dancing mock- ingly around Richard as he walked. He had conjured up many awful pos- sibilities these last hours, but even his seething brain had contrived nothing like that one! | But it were well to steady himself now; he had been talking with Gwen just before Bragg dropped that six- teen-inch shell into him, hadn’t he? Now he would have to talk as he had never talked before, because this was indeed his last chance at freedom! » Gwen was smiling expectantly. “Was it really a call?” she asked. “Tt was,” Richard said unsmilingly. “Gwen, you'll have to help me get away from here ina hurry now. Bragg doesn’t want me to go; so you will have to—” “ Did he say so, just now?” *_Y €s; and" “Did he say why?” Gwen inquired earnestly. “ He—what? Yes,” Mr. Melton re- plied, with a savage smile. ‘‘ He wants me here until he’s certain that—oh, that you and I are or are not in love!” “Te really said that?’ Mrs. Bragg cried delightedly. “He really did and—” “Oh, wonderful!’ the remarkable lady breathed, almost raptly, and radi- ated pure happiness! His haste notwithstanding, Mr. Mel- ton stared at her for a moment. She ~ was not actually vicious; she couldn’t possibly enjoy making all hands suffer ; -< oe i : a i“ . ’ 7 ~*~ cbooks.com 7" - > pear AS: 7 - a a s-4 7 ay Sot mF : Sacer = “ eK os eee Oe : ah nie Se SA ss gr th ~ mere Can Se Big << ~ SA phage ha fies. ee PA oe = : , or ; =e > - ret ee a me oe —<- . 5 at OT et en poe ed a “ a ime tee Py ELS a fe TDN NO TES, Ee EG a a ey eye ee Poe Nea OY cr aE yD lee in MN te Se Se a Se Se ee ere Tee