The Argosy, September 1915 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

256 * All right, then; we won’t quibble,” he answered, after a second’s thought. “We'll go to it a little bit straighter. I'll say this: I did land on Mr. David- son’s island. ‘That ’ll be enough for a ~while—except this: I wasn’t working alone.” “You mean, there was somebody ‘else who—” ‘“ Always,” remarked Sam _ confi- dentially, “when there’s a_house- breaking to be pulled off—that is,- ‘most always—a man doesn’t work alone. He has to have one pal. If he does the inside work, his pal sticks around outside, doing lookout duty, and to help make the getaway. It’s one of the most important parts of the job. Now, whatever I did or didn’t do at Davidson’s last night, the fact remained that I needed my pal a whole lot when it came to making a quick duck.” He paused and studied her, a faint twinkle in his dark eyes. ‘You mean—” Rosalind’s voice was trembling. ‘““T mean that my pal started an en- gine that I couldn’t have started in a year,” he added complacently. “ You—you villain!” “Ma'am? ” “You unspeakable scoundrel! ” Rosalind had risen to her feet. Her _ hand crept to a pocket in her sweater. “You hit on a new name that time, ma’am.” “You dare to say,’ she exclaimed in an unsteady voice, “that I was in any way associated with — with— whatever you did at Mr. Davidson’s? ” “ Well, now, I haven’t said so exact- ly. Only just try to look at it from the jury’s angle.” Rosalind choked and sat down. Her fears—fears that she had been trying to smother all afternoon—were real- ized. ‘This was blackmail! The boatman continued to smoke, unruffled. There was silence for a full minute. | ‘“T suppose we're all through talk- ing,’ he observed finally. THE ARGOSY. ‘We are not!” Rosalind’s tongue was loosed again. “What you have just hinted at is despicable, wicked — depraved! It’s beyond belief. You are contemptible enough to take advantage of an en- tirely innocent situation to make trouble—for a woman! Of course, with you it’s entirely a question of money. Therefore, how much? ” ‘How much for what?” he in- quired mildly. “For what! know— “Never mind; I'll put the thing plainly, if you wish. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, I en- gaged you as a boatman last night. Through a second series of circum- stances it became impossible for me to announce my arrival at Mr. Wither- bee’s in the usual manner. Through still-another series I had the misfor- tune to become involved in an affair which you very well know was none of mine. ‘ You are a thief; 1am not. It hap- pens, however, that I cannot afford to have my name in any way, either di- rectly or indirectly, connected with the escapades of a burglar. © The proba- bility is, if you continue to remain in this neighborhood you will be cap- tured. If that event does occur, you As if you didn’t well undoubtedly have it in mind to drag - me into the affair. much? ” ‘“ How much to leave you out of it? ” “ Exactly! ” | He considered the proposal for a little. : “How much “Il you give?” he in- quired cautiously. Rosalind was nonplused. She was not versed in the payment of hush- money. She had no idea whatever concerning the usual rates of compen- sation. ‘“T haven’t more than about fifty dollars with me,” she said. “Fifty, eh? Um! Well, now, sup- pose I say I don’t want anything, ma’am? ” Therefore, how CORNICLOOOKS (S@