The Argosy, September 1915 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

ONE-CYLINDER SAM. to get that bracelet we've got to make a different sort of play. How about stealing the whole show-case? ”’ Rosalind stared. “That is, stealing it for a while,” he continued. “I don’t mean carting all that truck away; we wouldn't know what to do with it. Besides, most of it isn’t worth anything. You don't happen to be wearing a badge, do your” “A badge? ” “One of those red and gold affairs that say something about the Bel- gians.”’ “Of course not.” » “We need a couple,’ he reflected. . “Will you get them?” “Where? ”’ “Well, a lot of the men are wearing them. Ive seen a few on the women, too. You might go in and dance a couple of times.” “You mean—’”’ The boatman nodded. ‘ Impossible! ”’ ‘Not a bit, ma’am, if you'll only dance the way you did with me. You can make a man forget everything else except his feet. It'll be dead easy. He’ll be in a trance. All you do when you’ve got him under the influence is to cop his badge. And be sure to get two; that means two dances.” Rosalind was unconvinced. “’Tell me more,” she commanded. For another five minutes the boat- man talked earnestly. She hesitated doubtfully and shook her head several times, yet she listened. When the wa- vering instants came upon her she thought of the bracelet. Whenever she remembered that fresh resolution reenforced her soul. “Tt is despicable—hateful!” she said. ‘But it’s reasonably sure,” he sup- plemented. “ And then—if I get them?” ‘Meet me at the end of the porch.” She hesitated. “ Of course, it really belongs to me,”’ she remarked parenthetically. 303 Sam chuckled. “Now you're getting back to the morals of it. That won’t get you any- thing, ma’am.” ee Bi “Take the bull outside and shoot it,” he interrupted tersely. ‘‘ What difference does it make whether you own it or not? Maybe you do; per- haps you don’t. I’m not asking you to produce any title-deeds. The point to aim at is—get the bracelet! “It may belong to the Queen of England for all I know. I don’t think you'd be particular if it did, provided you wanted it. You asked me to go shares on this job—” - “T didn’t!” “T guess that’s right, too. You wanted me to do it alone. That’s worse because you were sticking all the chances on me. But so far as stealing it goes, you'll have to admit that I didn’t suggest it. I only told you where the thing was. Then you make a proposition to hire me.” She flushed, but remained silent. “So it becomes a fifty-fifty deal,” he concluded. Rosalind thought of the name of the boatman’s launch. It assumed a new significance. ‘So it’s up to you to get those two badges and get ’em quick,” he de- clared bruskly. ‘I don’t care how; only I suggested a way. If you can think of a better one, go to it.” Rosalind compressed her lips and started toward the hotel. “Any time you get cold feet,” he advised, ‘“‘ just remember the bracelet.” It was superfluous advice. There was no fear she would forget it. It constituted her whole sustaining mo- tive. Three dances went by, and the boat- man still waited under the trees. The music had heralded a fourth when he sighted a tall, slim figure in white approaching with quick steps. “Here they are,” said Rosalind shortly. | EOPMICLOOOKS (E©)