Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

80 “You must remember,” said Paradou, proudly tapping his chest, “ that that poor La Besse was but a clerk; I am a warrior.” ‘ Cigarette!”? whined a voice at the door leading to the kitchen. “Thousand cats!” cried Duperron, scowling at the bulk of Kakaua, “‘ What do you want now, infernal nuisance?” -Kakaua whined for several minutes. ““ What does he say?” asked Paradou. ‘““A nice slice of meat!” Duperron ex- claimed. ‘“ He is going to auit. this king of yours!” ‘But he cannot quit!” cried Paradou. “I like this blessed island. I desire to do battle with this specimen of king for many years. What variety of maggot has got into him that he quits now, after he has been an unconquered monster these nny years?” “ He is going on strike,” said Deperron: “He says he is sick of being kicked all over the place for one cigarette a day. Unless he is paid a full package of cigarettes a day he will tell this accursed captain he is Ka- kaua, and sail away with him.” “And he is such a handy unconquered king!” moaned Paradou. “Always where you can find him,” groaned Duperron. : “And such a prince of cooks, Paradou. ‘“‘ And you have not tasted his sauces yet, remember!” groaned Duperron. ‘But why,” asked Paradou, brightening, “not give him a pack of cigarettes daily, if that is what he wants?” “ Sacrebleu!” cried Duperron. ‘“ You have a brain, Paradou! You think of things! You are magnificent, Paradou!” “ Perhaps I should have been a diplo- mat,” said Paradou modestly. ‘‘ Thousand thunders, Duperron, I have the idea! ‘This La Besse was but half a man. He was a child in arms. He could think of nothing but war—war—war. We will have a new era. We will combine war with diplomacy.” “ As?” queried Duperron, but Paradou had picked up his pen and was writing. “<While the indefatigable Kakaua is nursing his wounds,’” Paradou read as he wrote, “* I propose to undermine him. By THE ” moaned ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the utmost cleverness my secret service men have learned that it may be possible to bribe some of this monster’s most important allies away from him.: My investigations lead me to believe tobacco will appeal to their cupidity most strongly, their appetite for cigarettes being insatiable.’ ” “ Paradou,” said Duperron, .““ you are a genius!” Paradou smiled. He reached for a requi- sition blank, and on it wrote but one line: ‘ Cigarettes—roo ,000.’ Paradou read over what he had written. He frowned. «= “You are worried, old one?” Duperron asked solicitously. « “This report. This battle,” said Para- dou doubtfully. “Do you think I have made it ferocious enough? They will be expecting something of Paradou back there in that Paris. This thirty-two dead, for example. Is that enough for a man of my prowess to have killed, Duperron? If I made it sixty-four—only double as many?” ‘“We don’t want to murder the entire enemy in one combat, just the same,” said Duperron. ‘ We want to keep this thing going a while, yes?” ‘“‘ But only sixty-four,” pleaded Paradou. “That Tallien and that Dumont would ap- preciate sixty-four, Duperron. They ex- pect big things from me. My first battle with the unconquered Kakaua, Duperron.” “Have it your own way, then, little pigeon,” said Duperron. “ Double .your slaughter this time if you wish, but—” “ But what?” asked Paradou. : “‘ What is fair for one is fair for another,” said Duperron. “If you give those clerks sixty-four killed, ask them for two hundred thousand cigarettes. Thousand devils! Do they expect you to wear your life away fighting this monster of a Kakaua for noth- ing?” “‘ Doubtless,” said Paradou, as he blotted the new requisition and reached for the sealing wax. ‘‘ Doubtless, Duperron, for republics—as has been truly said—are un- grateful.” “* Absolutely!” said Duperron, as he leaned back in his chair and raised his glass to his lips. END 5 A (C@ ANC VOOLKS (F@)