Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 17, 1924 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

218 where it started to wave most unconvinc- ingly from the center of Miss Vail’s lip. The mustache was a part of a more than revered transformation of Tibbet’s bloomier days. <c You! »? ‘Well, what of it?” Miss Vail removed the mustache and dropped it onto the deck. Then she asked softly, “‘ what are you go- ing to do about it?” “This,” said Sparks, with an equal if more strained sort of softness, as he spread a firm hand about Miss Vail’s left ankle and gave it a pull. The most passing sort of an acquaintance- ship with the laws of balance must con- vince anyone that an equilibrium cannot be maintained when one side or the other is of a different weight. The object, thus conditioned, is bound through a low collu- sion with the force of gravitation to topple down upon its overweighted side. Miss Vail at once gave a striking exam- ple of the working out of that law. Sparks caught her with professional ease; and dra- ping her over his right shoulder, started amidships for the Princess’s tender. ‘“ Brute!” said a stifled voice from the region of the middle of his back. “ Beast! I'll never speak to you again as long as I live!” “ Quit trying to kick,” advised Sparks. “You'll only hurt yourself.” “Tl k-kill you!” promised Miss Vail. “The trick runs inthe family.” “Perhaps it does. But,” added Miss Vail, as darkly as the reversed position of her head would permit, “ when I aim I hit.” “ Be quiet!” said Sparks, as he slung her into the tender and held out a hand to as- sist Tibbet to climb over. “ Bless you, young man,” whispered Tib- bet from the heart, as she did so. Miss Vail had recovered her poise to an extent where she could stand up. “Sit down,” said Sparks, as he jumped into the tender and pressed a button. “T won't,” said Miss Vail. The tender’s davits swung outboard and they dropped easily down upon the water. Miss Vail, incidentally, sat. “My only wish,” said Miss Vail, with difficulty, as she stepped upon the dock at ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, Mirapa, “is that nothing happens to you, Mr. Swift, before I can attend to you my- self,” CHAPTER XII. DEAD SEA FRUIT. U mustn’t take what she says and does too much to heart, sir,” said Tibbet, the disembarking of whom from the tender was a lengthier process and required more deliberation. ‘“‘ She’s an ex- ceptional high strung young piece.” “« She is that,” agreed Sparks, giving Tib- bet the psychological and needed boost. “Yes,” said Tibbet, settling herself on the pier’s edge for a brief rest before fur- ther motion. “I’ve known her since she were a little baby, no bigger ”—Tibbet in- dicated a monkey wrench on the tender’s stern sheets as a fit object for comparison —“ nor that.” “It’s a wonder you're alive to tell the tale.” Tt tar ““ And what in hell’s bells, Tibbet, are you sitting here for with your feet hanging over the water?” demanded a familiar voice from behind her on the pier. Tibbet got to her feet with great dignity. “It’s a pity, indeed, Mr. Vail, that a body can’t take a bit of an airing without being started out at like from the dark.” “Rubbish! You’re up to something with Nancy. I know her earmarks.” Tibbet departed on a, sniff. “TI am glad you're still here, Swift,” said Mr. Vail, settling himself in the place just vacated by Tibbet. “TI must start at once.” Sparks intend- ed to indicate that he had no time to waste on chatting. He had already lost a good half hour, thanks to that red-headed crea- ture. “Don’t worry, Swift. I’m not here to waste your time. What I want to talk about is business—our business.” “Then make it snappy.” “Our contract calls, I believe, for the payment to be made for this job in the form of a deed to the residue of Coral Isle after the hill of coral rock shall have been Gomichbooks (C@