Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

SEA MARAUDERS. ~ sure Mr. Reardon wishes to carry out his instructions.” Steve turned to go, nothing else for it; but Mildred stopped him. “Just a minute, Mr. Reardon. Franklin, permit me to remind you that our wireless man is employed by my father, not by his guests. He will take his instructions from father or myself, “T think Mr. Lightman can wait half an hour to have his proposition declined, and in the meantime we are going swimming. If you like you may join us.” “Upon my _ word,’ exclaimed Forbes. “ May I ask if your father approves of your comradeship with this—er—employee?” Mildred drew her small self up with as much hauteur as a blond doll in a red bathing suit might achieve. “Tf you like you may ask him,” she said icily. ‘“‘ Come, Steve,” She held out her hand and he accepted it, then they ran into the water. It was the first time she had used his first name, and he hadn’t known she knew it. He was thrilled to ecstasy. She dived and he followed; they came up laughing to see Forbes re- treating toward the house. He grinned, ‘In an hour [ll be fired,” he observed. “Do you care?” “ Not a whit. It was worth it to see you lay him out.” “Vou needn’t worry about his tell- ing father,” she said as they swam side by side. ‘‘ Franklin is really very nice, and he claims to be in love with me; so he will take very good care not to tattle. He may be nasty to you.” “ T think I can lick him,” he said. She laughed. “I forbid you to fight. When I get Mr. Forbes in a corner Pll put him in a very meek mood.” “Just the same, I ought not to be meeting you like this. Your father certainly would object.” “If you are afraid of father,’ she taunted. | 443 “I don’t care anything for this job, but I'd hate to be put off the island, because then I wouldn’t see you any more.” “I suppose father would be furi- ous,’ she said. ‘Do you know you are the first man I ever was friends with who worked for his living? All my men inherited money and just spend it. Father says Franklin is a good business man, but I wonder how he would be if he hadn’t started with a good-sized fortune. you make?” “A: hundred dollars a week,’ he confessed. — “Goodness. That’s nothing. Why don’t you make more?” “ Because I don’t know how.” She lifted her eyebrows, then frowned. ‘‘ Nonsense. I am sure you have as much brains as Franklin. Why don’t you make a fortune?” “TT will,” he gritted. ‘I never had an incentive before.” With her face before him, her damp gold locks falling over her eyes, cleav- ing, both of them through the invigo- rating salt sea, it seemed a simple thing to do. 3 “Fine,” she applauded. “ Now I’m going in. I don’t want to make Frank- lin too angry. See you to-morrow.” CHAP IERAV. BLOOD AND A BOTTLE OF RUM. LACKBEARD and his ilk sailed the seas in a long, low brigantine, according to an old song. Cap- tain Bill Gibbons sailed in a long, low grayish-brown power boat. She was seventy feet from stem to stern, sea- worthy, built upon the lines of a fish- ing dory. She was unattractive to look at, and the ordinary observer would assume that she was a slow, unwieldy craft, which was what Gibbons hoped he would assume. She contained a huge gasoline engine, which could drive her How much do. 3 Eomicboo!l ERE Re “ea File: wi, ee Se EE ar OE et =G oS: Fj ie nee a a “ ae es See Oe. > om