Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

450 That bull voice roared again. “T give you people five minutes to come out, or I won’t leave one of you alive,” he proclaimed. “We've got you surrounded, and machine guns trained on you. Surrender, and do it quick,” The door opened, and somebody came out of the house. Steve thought it was Mr. Lovering. His voice re- vealed him. : “Who are you, and what do you want?’ he demanded. His voice was as steady as a rock, despite the terrifying experience of the last ten minutes. The big man laughed roughly. “ ’m Captain Kidd and we're pirates. We want your money and your jewelry, and we want ‘em quick.”’ “You have killed one of my friends,” replied Lovering, and this time his voice broke. “ You'll swing for this, my friend.” “Tn one minute I'll open up with the machine guns and kill more of you,” replied the soi-disant pirate. “ Prob- ably we'll kill some of the ladies. Do you surrender?” “Have I your word that you will spare our lives?’ demanded Lovering. “Why, certainly. Your lives ain't no good to me,” bellowed the big man. “Then we surrender,” said Lover- ing. “Line up your people and march them out on the porch. Lay down your guns. Any funny business and T’ll kill the last one of you.” “We shall do as you say. Please re- member that there are five ladies in the party.” “Step on it,” commanded the pirate leader. Steve heard part of this colloquy, but not all, for he knew his duty. He would send out an S O § if it was the last act of his life. He had retreated down the slope un- noticed, for all pirate eyes were on the parley, and he worked toward the wire- less house. As he drew near, the lights dismantling the apparatus. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. suddenly went on in his office, and through the window he saw two men. One of them had a wire cutter, and the other was working with a screw driver Too late! HOULD he give himself up with the others? He wanted to stand beside Mildred in this peril, but, disarmed, he could be of no service. Perhaps the pirates would treat them fairly and content themselves with rob- bery, but it would be shortsighted from their standpoint, for the victims would have a chance to see them and later might identify them. He was armed and at large, and ought to be more useful this way. He was in a position to pot the two men in the wireless office who had turned on the light fearlessly because the defenders had surrendered, but, if he shot them, their enraged comrades might revenge themselves upon the helpless prisoners. He stole away and came in view again of the house. The porch light was on, and he saw Lovering and his guests lined up just outside the door. The women were in night clothes and robes, and that they were all there, he saw with thankfulness. Forbes was standing beside Mildred and the lawyer, but Mr. Platt was not there. He must have been the man who was killed. Four of the pirates were marshaling the prisoners. Two of them he knew to be in the wireless house, and two more were in the grounds. One, he hoped, was dead. He had wasted six shots down on the bridle path, and fired another with effect. There were five cartridges in his gun, and twenty or thirty in his pocket. He ought to be able to give a good account of himself. At that minute there came around the corner of the house a woebegone company. ‘There were a dozen negro servants, most of them half naked, and six or eight white men and women who com a * Se Wet ee ra 2 Fs - = =’ : 2 ay +) *s ee ——e « as F Cg ee an OO re ee OE chooks.com : : - « > ee = “se Pe ‘ NT et ee A ree ee. > <*> Fe a Sa ey I We