Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

the twenty thousand dollars a year which your billet will carry. For the present | want you to come along with us to the boat, amd—this is very important—to keep your head shut very exactly as we walk through the village.” “You can guess I dont snap at the offer, though I admit it has its attractions. I presume you're offering me the position of surgeon on your pirate ship. A big oper- ating practice is always a lure to’a man who is keen on his profession. “ Also, I recognize that you'll put a .450 expanding bullet into my liver without a qualm if you don’t get your way. But at the same time I’m going to accept that bullet’ and rob you of a highly efficient ship’s surgeon if I don’t get my way first.”’ “T hardty follow you,” said the pirate. “Well, I’m going to propose a com- promise. I’m going out now—or, rather J] was going out whem you turned up—to see a patient. I operated on her this morn- oe What for?” ‘Never mind what for. You're a lay- man. Something internal; that’s good enough for you. And she took * mighty badly. Maybe I bungled. Surgeons do, sometimes, especially when they’re a bit overanxious. ‘Mark you, I don’t think I did bungie, but 3 can guarantee to you the patient is in an exceedingly dangerous state. I’ve got to go to her now. Understand what I say? Got to go. Hf I don’t, she dies any- way. “Man, don’t think this 5 merely 3 dodge to slip away from your damned schemes. I may save her life if I go now. If God’s not forgotten Conistone, I believe I shall save it. So I] must go to ber frst. Now you understand.”. m sorry,” said Teach, “ but 1 can’t afford to wait. And my own men come first. The lady must take her chance. You must stroll along with me to the landing, doctor.” ‘““— thought that would be your tune. Sheot, damn you, and get it over.” Captain Edward Teach, like his great grandfather, Blackbeard. always prided himself on having no qualms whatever —m— - ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. about killing an unarmed man when i was necessary for his own personal convenieace to do.so. “Asking for a fight” is, of course, mere foolishness in active piratical circles. But he was frankly unwilling to waste such an asset as Dr. Peter Cray. The man struck him as just the surgeon to keep a pirate crew in good trim, and though he was untidity clothed, with a lit- the good-humored persuasion he could be smartened up, and, in spruce evening kit, be a distinct addition to the Littondale’s dinmg table. (To tell the truth, Teach was getting very tired of the be-diamonded Mr. Evans with his genteel conversation, and sodden old McDow who always had to bite off his stories half-way through when Mary Arncliffe dined with them.) Also, although he regretted strenuously such unbusinessiike weakness, he hiked the man. : , Altogether, he hated the idea of wasting hire—or, in other words, of shooting him there and then, and going on to the nezt of his four selections. ‘‘ Shoot, damn yon, if you are poing to, and be quick about it. Quite understand that if you try and grab me, I shall sing out and rouse the village. I am not gomg to be hauled off to the lugger and leave my gx! untended.” Teach rubbed his big black chin. “ Don’t get rattled,” he advised. “ You aren't dead yet, though you are mighty near it. How long do you want with this woman, and what guarantee can yom give me that the whele thing isn’t merely 2 trick to help you to get away?” “Half an bomr will be ali I want. As for getting away, I suppose my perele is no good, or I would give you that, readily enough. But the cottage is a smal! enough one, and has only one door back and front. Surely you and the bleckguard with the sqpmnt can watch those?”’ ““ Doctor,” saad Teach grufffy, “ you offered me your parole that you would net make a bolt of #. I accept that. Now, let’s move along, please, and not keep your patient waiting.” In silence after that, the three of them left the house with its cloying woman’s scent, between the gardems which separate Or ginal fre Ima lOOOLKK =) CO THE OHIO STATE UD rn