Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

DIRTY with the velvet forget-me-nots so’s you'll be practically invisible while you creep on board, and I’ll let you wear that mauve veil Alice sent me to cover your face.” “ft won't,” said Tibbet feebly. To which Miss Vail answered in a man- ner discomfortingly prophetic, “ You will.” Some two odd hours later Sparks watched, with tired eyes, the last slab of coral rock swing from the hold and speed along the runway to the shore. For the first time since the sun had set he went into the galley where he drew a cup of black coffee and, sinking wearily upon an upended box, drank it with deep satisfaction. The sixteenth day was all but ended and success had crowned its close. His schedule was working on time. The first load was an accomplished fact and midnight would find him heading back for Coral Isle. The coffee finished, Sparks returned again or deck and made things shipshape for getting under way. This took the better part of half an hour. Then, with decks cleared, he swung the Princess toward the open sea. A long blast on the whistle was his sole good night to Mirapa. The flutter of something from behind a ventilator caught his eye. There was noth- ing that he knew of that should have fluttered. Was another attempt to be made upon his life, he wondered. He smiled grimly. He was only too well prepared for anything like that. Still, particularly as he was as yet almost within hail of shore, it would be better to investigate. He kept the Princess moving at slow speed ahead and, taking a blanket from the settee in the chartroom as he passed, went softly down to the deck. Surprise being half the battle in life, he wasted no time in investigating, but swooped around the ven- tilator’s broad base and threw the blanket over the top of a stout body and bore it, struggling, onto the clear space of the deck. A smothered, if hearty giggle, caused him to whip about and eye, with frank amaze- ment, a poorly put together young man who was dressed, heaven alone knew why, in a tuxedo. His first impression was that the stranger should either change or, preferably, shoot his tailor. WORK. 217 ‘“ Don’t be rough with her, sir,”’ implored the young man, in an unconvincing croupish contralto. “Her?” Sparks examined the struggling bundle more carefully and, a smothered shriek emerging from its folds, hastily let it go. ““ What is the meaning of this?” he asked severely. “It’s unfair of you to discover us so soon!”’ continued the young and willowy cake-eater. Sparks eyed the beautiful creature with itching fingers as he saw him stamp his foot. “Say listen here, sister,” he growled, *“‘ you're going to be spanked and sent back to your mommer. JI predict for you a long and healthy swim.” “ Catch me!” demanded the engaging youth and, with a hop, skip, and a jump, darted aft. By this time the bundle had unwrapped itself from the blanket and revealed a bel- ligerent and highly indignant Tibbet. ““T demand to be put ashore from this wessel!”? she announced as soon as her mouth hit the air. “Stick around,” urged Sparks as he dashed in pursuit of the flapping tuxedo, “and you'll get your wish.” Miss Vail, in spite of the impediment of her father’s trousers which were ten or twelve sizes too large for her, was exceeding- ly nimble and quick and, with a surprising agility, flitted about and jumped onto or over everything in sight. _ Realizing the chase was likely to be a hearty one, Sparks made the bridge, brought the Princess to a stop, and dropped her anchor. When he caught up again with the young nut in a tuxedo he found him improving the view by straddling the top of a ventilator. “Come down off that!” said Sparks. “Who is Sylvia?” sang the youth tune- fully in a high falsetto. “Tf you don’t, I'll come up and get you,” warned Sparks. A scornful and jarring laugh dropped down upon him. The laugh, in a sense, was a boomerang in that it loosened the youth’s large black mustache to a point COmMiICoooks (C@