Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

THE SNOW PATROL. borne his children. I want him. He is my man, just as this man here is your man!” ““No, no!” Sheila gasped, her face crim- son, “you must not say such things. Please—” Wageesh turned to me imploringly, now. “It’s no use,” I warned her; ‘“‘ you can’t have him. Even though I were convinced that you meant him no harm, my answer would be the same,”’ ““Mebbe you change your mind to-mor- row. At least you let me see him, eh? You let me speak to him alone, just for a minute?”’ I shook my head. Back to me there came the picture of her armed with my knife that day at the old seal camp. A minute would be all she would need to work her revenge. “What harm can that work?” Sheila surprised me by asking. ‘‘ What she says is true; she has been a wife to Ledoux.” Wageesh raised her hands above her head. “Search me!” she exclaimed. “I am unarmed, Tie my hands if you must; but let me speak to him!” She looked to Sheila appealingly, and, unconsciously, I looked to her, too, as if asking her to decide the question. Wa- geesh had done Sheila a great service in helping her to escape from Ledoux when he had first brought her to Cape’ Nelson. I thought of that now and wondered if that was why Sheila seemed disposed to side with her. The next second she proved that it was. “ Don’t forget,’ I said, when she had finished recalling the incident and stating her debt to the woman, “ that it was only her own selfish interests that she was think- ing of in getting you out of Ledoux’s hands. She knew how slim the chances were of your getting through the storm.” “Perhaps so; but life is continuously asking us to be magnanimous to others. Now I am disposed to obey that impulse. If Ledoux were in prison she would be per- mitted to see him.” ‘Under certain conditions, yes. I’m go- ing to put this matter in your hands; I'll do as you wish. But—TI want you to search her. Ill tie her hands.” 141 A grin spread over Wageesh’s flat face. She held her hands out in back of her for me to bind them. I took down a length of rope, which hung in back of the door, and bound them securely. She rewarded me with a smile in which I thought I detected cunning of a high order. It caused me to ask Sheila if she had searched carefully for a hidden knife. “She is not armed. I am sure of it.” ‘All right,” I answered, and going to the kitchen door [ called to Ledoux. He replied with a grunt. ““'You’ve heard what we said?” I asked. “‘T hear, you bet!” “Well, unlock the door; we are going to let Wageesh speak to you.” ““Oh, no, I don’ open the door!” he ex- claimed. “I can hear what she’s got to say where she is; let her talk if she wants to talk.” His voice was strained. I could picture him cowering on the other side of the door. The moment was a delicious one for me. I could not refrain from taunting him. “‘ Strong man,” I mocked; ‘“ you are the strong man, eh? God! Don’t be a fool. Hear what she’s got to say. It may mean your life and ours, too. Open up!” Wageesh said something to him in dia- lect. A minute or two later I heard Le- doux unbar the door. He opened it wide and backed away. His eyes were haggard- looking. I don’t know what it was that Wageesh had said to him. It certainly had had an immediate effect on him, but the fact that he had caught up the heavy poker and held it now as @ weapon with which to protect himself, said plainly enough that he was far from convinced that her intentions were peaceful. Wageesh did not hesitate. She brushed past me and went up to him with measured tread. The glance which they exchanged was shrewd and wary. Neither of them made any attempt to close the door, so I stood there, seeing, but unable to hear what they said. Wageesh hac her back to me, but her eloquence and earnestness were unescap- able. Time after time Ledoux shook his head, as if he were refusing her request. COnmiclboookxs (C@