Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

50 THE ARGOSY. , with us. Dean knows you. Go to his cabin alone. Tell him we just discoyered that somebody in the crew tried to rob his place. Make it plausible enough to hold his attention; long enough to give us time to get into the cabin and overpower him. Understand?”’ ‘“‘ T[—think—I do.” Marta said it slowly, staring curiously at Burchard. “Well, don’t look that way about it! It’s nothing so bad. Easy to do—” ‘“ Kid’s job,” said Blye. “ And, mind you, you’re saving Dean’s life for him. Now you understand it all. Time’s short. Get your men, Blye.” Blye left hurriedly. ‘“‘Good girl, Marta!” Burchard ap- ‘plauded, laying his hand on her bare arm. “Good old sport. You always stood by me—thick and thin—eh?”’ “ That’s so—I always have.” Marta seemed to consider this in the light of a dts- covery. “ All right. dear.” Get a cloak. And quickly, Between Dean and Marta the silence had drawn out miserably. It was Dean who spoke at last. ‘‘ Your friends out there?” he suggested. ‘“ Aren’t they coming in?”’ “ My friends! Why I—they—” “Yes. Let’s have ’em all in?” “ Oh!” She exclaimed it tearfully... “ Oh, you—don’t you understand?” “ Why, I think so. Let’s ask—”’ “No, no! Dean! They are out there, Blye, Burchard, three others. Armed men. They’re—dangerous—desperate. They are coming here to—to rob you, Dean!” “Why, yes, of course. So they are.” . Dean spoke without emotion. “So they are,” he repeated. “ That’s plain enough. Well, let’s have them in—” ‘“‘ Dean, they are coming here to steal the gold—your gold! They mean—violence. I warn you. That’s why I came, to warn you—” . “Yes, yes. Very kind of you. Yes, I understand, Miss Kree. Burchard needs the money—of course. Heard about my little cache, and wants it: Admirably sim- ple and—businesslike. Call him in—” ‘T tell you they are too many for us!” Marta seized Dean’s arm and shook it vig- orously. She had a terrible fear that Dean was not quite sane. “ They'll kill you—” ‘““Oh, no. No, they won’t do that—’’ . “ But they will! Dean, listen—” ‘I know what you are trying to tell me. Certainly. But there won’t be any fighting, Miss Kree. -I give you my word. No vio- lence. Call themin. Burchard is welcome to the gold.” , Dean spoke gently. He paid no attention to the stare of horrified surprise that an- swered his declaration. Fumbling a little for the proper words, he went on with a paternal kindliness: “ Yes, he can have it. I don’t want it. Never did. Foolish thing, trying to keep it cooped up like that. But, you understand, I was trying to protect others from it. I— I didn’t realize it couldn’t be done. The devil is in it—and you can’t keep the devil quiet, can you? In a way I'll be glad to See it go—and it may do some good. Who knows? I think Burchard might make you—very happy. There are good points to Burchard —lots of them. Give him enough money, and you'll both—” He completed the sen- tence with a vague gesture, like a benedic- tion. Marta understood him now. His accept- ance of the situation—a false situation of his own deduction—overwhelmed her. At another time she would have cried. But now there was something more pressing to be done. She seized his wrist in a grip that hurt. She pulled Dean closer to her, where she could force him to meet her gaze. Her black eyes stared up into his. “You think I want that gold!” “‘ Well—” Dean shrugged. “You think [’m with Burchard—in— this?”’ “ You're going to marry him.” “You think I1—told—Burchard!” Dean hesitated a fraction of a second. Then he nodded soberly. “ Oh—you cad!” ° Dean kept silence. Marta’s voice was husky with anger. “You apologize,” she whispered. ‘“ Take that back. You heard me, Dean. You— will apologize to me—now!” co) Burchard :needs it, you say—and -