Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

“Aunt Becky,” he _ chattered, “m-make me a rum toddy.” “Misto Gerry, Ah cain’t, Ah dunno whuh she done hid it.” “ She didn’t hide my rum!” “Oh, yes, I did, Cousin Gerald,” Susan said brightly. “ It’s only an il- lusion that you need a stimulant. If » you want a cup of coffee, you can have that.”’ “ But—my heart!” Gerry moaned, suddenly strategic. “What's the matter with heart?” Susan suspiciously asked. “It—it’s hardly beating,’ he breathed. ‘‘ Without hot rum, I am apt to die!” Susan gazed at him with round, al- luring, suspicious eyes. “YT won’t have a drunken desperado on my hands,” she said. “I think you're merely simulating faintness. But—oh, very well, Ill let you have one small drink. What do you put in a rum toddy?” “Rum, hot water, lemon juice and sugar,’ said Gerald promptly. “ Aunt Becky, you get them while she gets the rum.” eas, Sule” “And bring me a teaspoon,’ Susan. “A teaspoon!” groaned Gerry. “ Bring her that spoon you use for mix- your ’ added - ing pancake batter!” Susan returned presently with a tall glass in her hand containing an almost microscopic dose of rum. “1 don’t want to interfere with your regular habits,” she said, “ but J don’t want to have a drunken desperado on my hands, either,” “You needn’t worry about my an- noying you, drunk or sober,” was Gerry's hot rejoinder—made after he had tasted the toddy and had hunted in vain for a taste of healing, soothing, revivifying rum. ‘‘ And as for inter- fering with my regular habits, your very presence interferes with them.” “T’m not any gladder to be here than you are to have me,” she reminded THE SCANDAL ON KITIKAT KEY. 499 him. “I’m here absolutely against my will. Bear that in mind, please.” ‘I don’t see how that gave you the right to jump off that dock onto the middle of my back,” he complained. “You damned near drowned me.” She looked horrified. “Oh, you low creature. curse, do you?” Gerald looked at her pensively. It was hard to realize that this beautiful, bright-eyed girl was as old-fashioned as that. “You are kidding me, Miss Finch.” “Perish the thought! And to imagine that I must stay under this same roof with you! And, on top of it all, ungrateful. You deny, I sup- pose, that I saved your life?” “ Deny it!” he gasped. “ Well, I’ll be da— I mean— I guess I don’t know what I mean.” “That drink,” Susan accused him, “has gone to your head!” “That drink,” Gerald corrected her, with a hollow laugh, “didn’t get any farther than my tonsils. But. I feel better. How about something to eat, Aunt Becky?” “ Dinner’s all ready, suh. Want it out on de po’ch or in heah?” You also “We'll dine on the porch,” said Su- san. “No,” said Gerald, right here in front of this fire.” ‘1 hate being indoors—on a lovely. night like this,” said the girl. “ I’ll eat my dinner on the veranda.” “T'll eat mine in the kitchen,” said Gerald. “J think you’re detestable,” said Susan, Gerald said nothing. He arose, gath- ered an armful of dry clothing from bureaus in his sleeping room, and went out in back to change. ‘Then he ate his dinner in the kitchen. And Aunt Becky muttered at him while he con- sumed it. ‘Ah don’t see why you’s so rude an’ mean to dat girl. She’s de purtiest girl Ah evah clapped mah eyes on.” “we'll dine . : 4" A Ly, : ; + ate Ye» - ‘ s + wd Ke! Bx OSUNS , Aah et 2 ated M 4 ~_ % C8 RPA . ~~? “com cbool cr m igs 34 erm