The Argosy, August 1914 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

NOBODY LOVES A LOSER. Mann the dialogue he had overheard. The number one man promptly led him before Captain Zed. His previous experience of keeping information to himself for the sake of sparing the captain’s ‘feelings had taught Jack it did not pay. This was an affair, moreover, which required the wit and strength of all hands. Captain Zed heard his recital and Herb’s com- ments thereon without display of sur- prise. He credited the islanders with an appetite for crime which nothing could sate. “How're you feelin’?”’ he asked Jack before expressing himself on the errand that had brought him. ‘Me? Oh, I’m all right! Hardly sore a bit. I'll go out with the boats to-morrow.” He looked over to Jessica to see whether the announcement interested her. She remained unmoved. He wished he might have a little aside with her to inquire what had arisen between them. “Jess, if you’d as soon,’ said her grandfather, “we're goin’ to have a man’s talk, and you might do your sew- in’ in your own room. That is, if you don’t mind.” “All right, grandfather,” plied, and departed obediently. “Now, first off, we've got to save them mackerel,’ Captain Zed declared. “Peter Gomez, hey? The mis’rable skunk. I give him a lay in my, gang over at New Galilee when he was flat busted—didn’t have so much as an eel- pot he could call his own. But that’s what you got to expect of an islander.” ‘“ How’re we goin’ to do it?” asked matter-of-fact Herb Mann. “That’s the question. How’re we goin’ to save our mackerel and trim these islanders at the same time. I swun, one’s about as important as t’other, to my notion. What do you say, Jack?” “There’s only. one way to go at it,” was Jack’s reply. “ That is, to fight.” “T thought you'd say that, after hearin’ about the way you cleaned up she re- 69 Buck Potter,” said Captain Zed. “ But they’s a right way and a wrong way ta fight. Here’s a letter I got this morn- in, Hefb:* The missive was an offer from a big fish firm for the whole catch of mackerel, delivered at the earliest pos- sible moment, at a price which rendered it unnecessary longer to dole the fish out a few at a time, The number one man passed it over to Jack, with Cap- tain Zed’s permission, “If fish are worth that now,” said the captain, returning the letter to its envelope, “they'll be worth as much in a few days—say next Monday— wouldn't they?” “What's your plan, cap’n?” asked Herb. “Monday night these fellers are figgerin’ on stealin’ the fish and rippin’ up my pound net. I’ve been achin’ a long while for a good excuse to take a few larrups at them. “Now what’s the matter with us being out there Monday night when they come, and havin’ some fun out of the racket? What’s the matter with that, hey? One last kick, as you might say, because the trappin’ season’s about over, fur’s I’m concerned, and we’re goin’ back to Galilee soon.” “That's all right,’ Herb agreed, while Jack’s eyes sparkled at the pros- pect. “It’s righteous retribution, as you mught say, which nobody enjoys more’n I do. But while we was takin’ our pleasure, we might be losin’ our 2 Sf fish. That wouldn’t pay.” “You leave that to me, Herb,” said Captain Zed with a sly wink. “I'll warrant ye they won’t be a fish missin’. Just keep an eye on Pete betwixt now ’n’ then to see that he don’t work any funny games in between, an’ put him on watch same as usual next Monday night, when his turn comes round.” . They omitted the pound the next morning, Captain Zed offering as an excuse that the market was supplied. A few fish were taken on Friday, when Jack had his first opportunity of seeing the fruits of his lucky discovery. COMMICLOO® S (C@