Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 2 — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

A MAN TO tilely while he held her, kissed her, and set her down as Rainey sprang forward. Lund seemed utterly unconscious of the girl’s revulsion. ‘“ Comin’ to me with the drills!” he said. “We licked ’em. You an’ me together. My woman!” Peggy Simms had leaped back, her eyes blazing. Lund came for her, his face lit with the desire of her, arms outspread, hands open. Before Rainey could fling himself between them, the girl had snatched the little pistol that Lund had set on the table and fired pointblank. She seemed to have missed, though Lund halted, his mouth agape, astounded. “You big bully!” said Rainey. Now that the\time had come he found that he was not afraid of Lund, of his gun, of his strength. “ Play fair, do you? Then show it! You asked me once why I didn’t make love to her. I told you. But you, you foul- minded bully! All you think of is your big body, to take what it wants. “Peggy. Will you marry me? I can protect you from this hulking brute. If it’s to be a showdown between you and me,” he flared at Lund, still gazing as if stupefied, “‘let it come now. Peggy?” The girl, tears on her cheeks that were born from the sobs of anger that had shaken her, swung on him. “You?” she said, and Rainey wilted un- der the scorn in her voice. ‘“‘ Marry you?” She began to laugh hysterically, trying to check herself. “YT didn’t mean you enny harm,” said Lund slowly, addressing Peggy. ‘“‘ Why, I wouldn’t harm you, gal. Youre my woman. Youcome to me. I was jest—jest sorter swept off my bearin’s. Why,” he turned to Rainey, his voice down-pitching to a growl of angry contempt, ‘“ you pen- shovin whippersnapper, I c’u’d break you in ha’f with one hand. You ain’t her breed. But ’’—his voice changed again—“‘ if it’s a showdown, all right. “Tf I was to fight you, over her, I’d kill you. D’ve think I dont respect a good gal? D’ye think I don’t know how to love a gal right? She’s my mate. Not yours. But it’s up to you, Peggy Simms. I didn’t mean to insult you. An’ if you want him—why, ) HIS MATE. 279 it’s up to you to choose betweeh the two of us.’ She went by Rainey as if he had not ex- — isted, straight into Lund’s arms, her face - radiant, upturned. ‘It’s you I love, Jim Lund,” she said. “Aman. My man.” As her arms went round his neck she gave a little cry. ‘“T wounded you,” she said, and the ten- der concern of her struck Rainey to the quick. ‘‘ Quick, let me see.” | ‘* Wounded, hell!” laughed Lund. “ D’ye think that popgun of yore’s cud stop me? The pellet’s somewheres in my shoulder, Let it bide. By God, you’re my woman, after all. Lund’s luck!” Rainey went up on deck with that ring- ing in his ears. His humiliation wore off swiftly as he crossed back toward the beach. By the time he crossed the promontory he even felt relieved at the outcome. He was not in love with her. when he intervened. He had not even told her so. His chivalry had spoken—not his heart. And his thoughts strayed back to California. The other girl, Diana though she was, would never, in almost one breath, have shot and kissed the man she loved. A lingering vision of Peggy Lund’s beauty as she had gcne to Lund remained and faded. “ Lund’s right,” be told himself. not of, my breed.” CHAPTER XVIII. THE FOC. [ UN D glanced at the geyser of spray where the shell from the pursuing gun- boat had fallen short, and then at the bank. He had known that ‘“ She’s _ of mist ahead. They were in the narrows of » Bering Strait, between the Cape of Charles and Prince Edward’s Point, the gold aboard, a full wind in their sails, making eleven knots to the gunboat’s fifteen. It was midafternoon, three hours since they had seen smoke to the north and back of them. Either the patrol had found them gone from the island, freed by blasting from the floe, and followed on the trail full speed, - or a wireless on the Tchukchis Coast had told of their homing flight. ~ (e(0) DOOKS (ECo}l Ay