The Argosy, Vol. 82, No. 3 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

SHIPS OF STRIFE. “Cut out the cursing, you hoary old fool!” exclaimed Steelfist. ‘‘The Dude’s euchred you, blast him—this ain’t no time for us to be fighting! Get busy, now. You blew my ship up, and you’ve lost your own, {t’s the Dude against both of us, and we’ve got to pull together.” “And you cut in on the loot, eh?” grated Howard in fury. ‘Passage home for you— that’s all! You're licked, Steelfist, Jicked good!”’ “Oh, are you sure of that?” Marshall laughed again. “How about my mate, Bower, eh? He an’ his men are scouring the island for the girl an’ the Gospel-shark, an’ they ought to get here pretty quick. Bower’s got the rifles, too.” At this information, Blake _ stiffened where he crouched. “Vou’re a handy liar, Steelfist,” returned Howard, but there was doubt in his voice. “T got you licked right here—” “Tf you think so, start scrappin’ again!” taunted Marshall. ‘‘There’s no loot unless I share fifty-fifty, see? Where d’ye think you'll find it?” “What d’ye mean?” demanded Howard. “What’s your foxy trick now?” “Tt takes no trick to know that anything what was ever in that old wreck ain’t there now, you fool! Didn’t I tell you that this evening? The old hymn-singer’s got it, blast him! If Bower don’t round him up, we'll go through his house. Fifty-fifty— speak up quick!” Howard stood silent for a moment. sound came. from the Foster. “J don’t trust you any more’n I would a rattler,” said Howard grudgingly. “But I guess you're right. We'll split even. If we don’t find nothing—you stop here, savvy? And I’m in command.” “Take you,” snapped Marshall with a chuckle. ‘Tell what’s left of your rats, to hustle over here, an’ give us a lead your- self.” Blake turned swiftly and caught the Finn’s shoulder. “Ole, you stay around and watch those fellows. If you get a chance, cut out the bo’sun, Paddy Ryan, or any one else you can trust, and bring ’em to the house. I’m going back there. Understand?” “Ay got ju, Dude,” nodded Ole confi- dently, and Blake crawled away hurriedly. From the condition of the bungalow he knew that Long Rube’s party could not have come that way. Therefore Bower, No 437 who must have been sent ashore shortly after dark and in absolute silence, had probably landed at the south headland and had begun to sweep the island from that direction. His whereabouts was now a mystery. Since no sound of shots had lifted from across the island, Blake felt convinced that Wicliff was still keeping the natives out of a fight, though probably aware of Bower’s presence. Gaining the bungalow, he found it as before—deserted, more silent than the silent night outside. But as he stepped heavily to the veranda and felt for a match there came the slightest of rustles, the sound of a sharply caught breath—and again silence. Blake stood stock still, his mind leaping to Bower. Was an ambush planted here? Had Long Rube’s party circled the island? He cursed his own ignorance of that expe- dition, which had caused him to give his revolver to Boston. He could descry nothing in the pitch blackness of the room before him. Lips clenched, he took a step forward—‘‘click!’”’ A weapon had cocked, somewhere. “Hold up, Bower!” he exclaimed sharply. “This is Blake—I’ve taken the John Foster, and now we’ll talk terms.” For an instant longer there was tense silence. Then— “Oh, thank God!” breathed a voice, and something brushed into his arms. “I—I was afraid—”’ “Mary Peabody, by the Lord Harry!” he ejaculated softly, holding the slight figure to him. ‘Why, girl—where did you come from? Here, come out on the veranda and tell me about it. Where’s Wicliff?” Despite her half-hysterical laugh of pro- test, he lifted and carried her to one of the Singapore chairs. ‘Then he took the cocked revolver from her hand and carefully low- ered the hammer. _Her fingers clung to him for a moment and loosened. “T’ve been at the village,” she said, forc- ing quiet into her voice. ‘Mr. Wicliff was gone with the men—lI don’t know where. One of the women ran in with word that strange men were coming, and—and I ran this way. I had just got in the house when I heard you coming—” “And here I am,” smiled Blake. the women scatter?” ‘““Ves—they had some place to hide, but ECOMMICLO® (C <S) “Did . (C@