Argosy, Vol. 112, No. 2 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

200 “You have got money? You are carry out money belong say Universal Harvester Company, yist?”’ Jim assumed a perplexed attitude. “Once, quite a while ago, I had some- thing to do with some Universal Harvester Company money to oblige a friend. I haven’t got it now.” “Where has went, please?’’ “You can search me. All I was doing was to return some empty cars in that train you piled up—to Vladivostok. You don’t see any money on me, do you, or about me here?”’ * You let us search, please.” “Go to it! You've got the wrong man, I tell you.” The young Russian conveyed this to his companions. ‘Two burly proletariat were elected to go through the American’s clothing. In the still more dubious debate which followed their ill-fortune, Jim detected refer- ences to “vaggon,’ and that they had searched his car thoroughly after breaking in and finding him gone. Secretly in his heart the American began to lose his terror of the dreaded Bolsheviki. They were simply a lot of poor, illiterate people running amuck. He remembered what an old Red Tri- angle veteran had said to him in Vladi- vostok when he first came up from Japan: “Wherever three are gathered together in Russia there are two debating societies.” If he could keep up the argument with these brute men with child-minds, his superior education and wits might yet find a loop- hole to save his skin and the rubles, also. Force would mean suicide. Diplomacy was his cue. “But you had money,” came back the interpreter doggedly. ‘‘ We have receive word you come from Blagovyeschensk with much money. You have not lose money while come. Where is? Not find money in chasn’ny vaggon. You tell.” “T can’t tell you the location of some- thing I haven’t got. And even if I had it, how could the Soviet put me to death for taking money out of Russia when I haven’t taken it out? Even if you had caught the money on me, I wouldn’t yet have com- ) THE ARGOSY. pleted the deed. punished for a deed until he has committed and completed it. Where’s the logic in your argument, anyhow?” Inwardly the Yankee chuckled, for the And. a man cannot be young Russian disclosed by his blank face - that he was trying to reason it out himself. He turned and translated the Yankee’s words to those who demanded what the Americansky was saying. They were all appropriately impressed. It was crude; a silly argument. But they gave it all due consideration. Hats came off. A general scratching of heads followed, likewise a shrugging of shoulders. ‘““We have make big damage of po’vest (train) for no money, yist?” “It kind of looks that way.” Another burly Russian in a high army cap, an ulster, and several ludicrous decora- tions, shoved his way forward. He argued vehemently as though to end the nonsense. He laid down the law to his companions and the interpreter, casting ominous glances at Jim Herring. ‘““He say,” translated the interpreter, “you tell dam’ big quick where is money or we use shtyk (bayonet).” ‘And you tell him,” returned Herring with as much courage as he could muster, for he felt the tide going against him, ‘ that he is one big fool. Suppose I did know where the money was—which I don’t admit —by using force, by killing me, he spoils forever his chance of learning the knowledge IT may possess. You tell him that if you boys will treat me decently, let me send some telegrams, to be sure I am right, I may be able to locate the money for you.” Jim’s heart Bave a leap. He saw that he had conveyed an impression that he had left the money behind in some interior city. The big Russian was angry when Jim’s words were translated, incensed at being called a fool. But the Yankee’s willingness to aid them to acquire the loot impressed them. The doubting, pacific element in the crowd dominated. ‘You let us read telegrams first—yist?” demanded the interpreter. ‘“ You not play any trick to tell White Guards we are here —nor Czechoslovak?” ‘Sure you can read my telegrams. You’d. - Gomichbooks (E) ; . ES;