Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

Sat A peculiar whistle sounded outside the catin windew. “ There's the motor boat,” cried the chief, jumping up. ‘“ We'll have to go out and give a hand, or Gil may not be able to tow this old turtle out of the mud it’s resting In. Come on.” “Don't you want me to help?” shouted Monty as the disgusted pair hurried out- side and locked the door after them. 4 From the deck came sounds of tramp- ing feet and querulous voices. Orders to cast off and to get off and push until the old scow was loose from the mud, trickled through the cracks. These sounds gave Monty some idea of the activities pro- gressing outside. Evidently he was imprisoned in an old barge that had wallowed in mud until it had become almost a permanent landmark. Finally the straining and ordering stopped. The canal boat lurched off its mud perch and bobbed gently. The door rattled and the pair of kidnapers reéntered. “JT hope you folks have considered the possibilities,” their prisoner greeted them. “Tf you’ve got a launch instead of a tug towing this scow, and a government in- spector happens to spot you, he'll be along- side in a jiffy. He'll probably make things unpleasant for you.” The chief and Paul exchanged worried glances. “ Anyway, he'll revoke that motor boat’s license,” added Monty solemnly. “ Say! Are you taking me across to Jersey?” “ Suppose we are?” demanded the chief noncommittally. “ There you go! Never thinking of con- sequences,” scolded Monty. “ Kidnaping in New York only draws ten years, whereas in Jersey they soak you a twenty stretch for your favorite sport. Why cross over to make it tougher for yourselves?” This~ assertion was delivered with con- vincing emphasis, although Monty had no idea what the law's penalties weré. Neither did his captors, so his triumphant manner did not put them at ease. “ Suppose I said we're going there to put on a rum runner’s speedboat that'll take you out to Rum Row?” insinuated the chief. “I don’t mind saying we may ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. wait in midstfeam and put you aboard there, if you’re so worried about us.” “That'll make it a Federal case— piracy,” gloated Monty. “Oh, you'll be in for it then, The government never lets up on such cases. You daren’t kill me be- cause youll get the chair for that. And you can’t go back because I arranged to have my van followed and the police called in if you went too far. What’s more, your rotten old tub is sinking!” Sure enough, as the two crooks gaped in the direction to which Monty pointed, they saw the water pouring in through the seams that were opened when the barge was hauled off the mud by the motor boat. VII. Asruptiy abandoning their prisoner, the pair rushed outside and shouted frantically to the man piloting the motor boat. Eventually they succeeded in making him hear above the popping of his engine. Their shouting orders to tow them back gave Monty his clew to developments. With much yelling and running about, the barge finally was snubbed back to its mooring. The motor boat popped away after its pilot had hurled insulting retort to orders to return after dark. “Will you boys recommend me for 2 Carnegie medal—for saving you from drowning?” chirped Monty, when the two discouraged-looking crooks returned to the cabin. They glared at him. “Never mind the wise cracks,” ad- monished the chief wanly. ‘Get busy with that note. No fooling now.” ‘Why, this pen is dry,” complained Monty, attempting to write and failing to make any marks. While the others had been outside he had pressed the filling lever, Squirting out all the ink. “ Hell, we're hoodooed!” expostulated Paul. “Is everything gone blooey on this job?” “T don’t think you boys know your businesS,” criticized Monty. ‘You were fooling me when you said you were pro- fessionals. Was that nice? Looks to me as though you just rushed into this with- out enough preparation or rehearsal after COMmica@oo SS Co