Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

ss DOWN: THE COAST OF BARBARY. 515 later, perhaps to-night. Now, shall we work r not?” “ Yes,” said Gholam Mahmoud curtly. “ And what gain we by this mutual good will? How burns your end of the candle? Speak ~ Gholam Mahmoud smiled evilly. “I need no money. I will take the woman in your party.’”* “ Oh, dios de mi alma, but I understand now! You wish her?” “Exactly. Who is she?” “ Devil take me if I know. Since she is not the wife of Spence she must be the daughter of Shaw, the English envoy. Well, take her, if you like! But where do I come in by this door of good luck?” “Milk Ripperda,” said Gholam Mah- moud brusquely. “ Kill Mulai Ali and the others, take the woman and the box. Let my master, Ripperda, ransom the box, eh? Money to you, woman to me.” “ Por dios, it is agreed!” thundered Bar- barroja grandly. ‘“ Upon the word of a ca- ballero! How to do the work? I have the sherif’s seal and no lack of men to obey me. Do you set the trap, and I will lead the partridges into it.” They conferred together. An hour later Barbarrojasstroiled into the other room, humming a, gay air. He af- fected to be seeking some lost article, mut- tering about it between snatches of his song, and cursing the Moors for thieves. He stumbled over a prostrate form in the cor- ner, and swore. “ Here is, another of the drunken dogs— by the saints! If these are not the boots of the Captain Spence—holy mother! The valiant captain trussed and gagged like a ___ Withea monstrous show of'surprise he cut * ar loose. His amazement was so un- Spence swore, perceiving that black bur- noose had escaped him. He hastened back to the rooms he had quitted, rubbing his sore wrists and feeling anything but joyful. He found the canvas-covered box intact with his saddlery. It would not have pleased him to know how Barbarroja was laughing at the mo- ment. This redbeard much enjoyed his little joke, and fancied himself a fellow of infinite wit, a fancy which was destined to work him some ill before long. CHAPTER VI. “Tt will toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's sword will.” PENCE at once sent Barbarroja and a Spahi on the back trail to meet Dr, Shaw. He himself spent most of the day resting or talking with Mistress Betty. He could not restrain his admiration for the way in which she had controlled her fate. Her father had taught her to draw a horo- scope with some skill. When he spoke of getting his own drawn, however, she laughed and looked at him for a moment. “Are you serious, my dear captain?” ‘‘ Middling so,” acknowledged Spence whimsically. “If the future can be read—” “ Your future, sir, can better be read in your face than in the stars—a future of much calm strength, of firmness, of self- mastery. But tell me! How long do we remain here?” “ Until we get word from Shaw and Mulai Ali. We shall meet them outside town, We dare not linger here in Tlemcen, lest messengers from Hassan Bey raise the pur- suit after us. And I have found that Gholam Mahmoud has indeed been here.” He said nothing of his misadventure, lest he alarm her, but recounted what Barbar- roja had said about seeing the former Janis- ““ We are in a strange vortex of intrigue,” she mused. “ Mulai Ali, if he reaches rocco, can gain the throne; the pre aoe ee oe ee This renegade grandee of Spain must baa aay ae Q, + 3 4