Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

CROOKS WELCOME. “Do you mean to say you still refuse to sign?” demanded Trescott incredulously. “ Now that we’ve got your girl in our—”’ “In your powerboat?’ grinned Monty, although the grimace cost him an effort. “Sure. Why should I get excited? It’s her affair, not mine. We've got equality of the sexes now. You wouldn’t expect me to cave in because some man had blun- dered in here? Well, why should I for a woman? Say, you must be working by aw- fully old-fashioned rules. You’ve been reading stories where the hero is forced to give in because some jane is in the vil- lain’s clutches. I bet she hasn't got any of those nineteenth century ideas. She looks modern. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lady is getting as big a kick out of this as I am.” “ Applesauce!” scorned Trescott, but his voice wavered. ‘“ You're stalling—trying to kid me that this ain’t your girl friend.” “ Of course, if you say so,” sighed Monty with a shrug, “‘ To tell the truth, I wouldn’t mind if you put her in her place. She gave me a dirty deal in that office building this afternoon. You remember I told you a couple of other crooks tried to mace me. Well, they used this doll baby for the decoy. Had her flop a faint in front of me to work on my sympathies and throw me off my guard. Old stuff! I got it right off the reel and didn’t fall. But—trying to crash here! Isn’t there any honor among thieves? I’ve been cruelly deceived by that old saw. And must I act as hostess of this house boat, introducing you yeggs to one another ?”’ “Do you belong to some mob?” de- manded Trescott, turning to Ruth. Paul removed his hand to allow her to answer. ‘ What’s it to you?” she demanded in a harsh, throaty voice suggestive of the cheap woman who dissipates. It was so different {rom Ruth’s ordinary tones that Monty scarcely could conceal his admiration for her acting. Her face and carriage were in character, too. Evi- dently while shadowing Bat she had ap- plied the contents of her vanity box lavish- ly. This make-up gave her a bold, hard, highly-tinted appearance. “You better lemme loose before my man 847 and his mob crashes here,” she added, hav- ing caught the tip from Monty’s jeering remark. ‘“ This is no way to treat a lady.” Trescott plainly was puzzled. He stared questioningly at his two prisoners. Monty was grinning gloatingly at Ruth who in turn was favoring him with a look of ex- aggerated scorn. ‘““What you doing here, then?” asked Trescott. “None of yer business,” snapped Ruth. “What d’you know about that?” “Don’t you extend the courtesies to— er—the professions?” inquired Monty imp- ishly. ‘Maybe she isn’t your sweetie, but I still think so,” evaded Trescott. ‘Shut her up in my stateroom, Bat, and give ber the third degree. Don’t be too gentle, and we'll see how this bird takes it.” “ You'll be sorry. My man’s a killer,” threatened Ruth, as Bat and Paul dragged her through the outside door. Trescott refused to turn his eyes toward her. He was staring intently at Monty’s face, studying it for a single betraying ex- pression, no matter how fleeting. And Monty was gazing cheerfully after the girl, as though he were witnessing an exciting comedy which entertained him completely. This was no easy pose, for his ears were straining to catch any sound which might make him drop all pretense and sue for compromise. As a result of their intense preoccupa- tion, neither man was prepared for the sud- den, whirling entrance through the door of Paul and a second struggling, scratching, fighting girl. As Paul threw her roughly around so that she faced them, Monty saw that the newest visitor was the girl crook who had tried to vamp him and then had pretended to faint in the hallway outside of Lawyer Peck’s office. The girl called Belle. “Hell! Is this the floating home for working girls?” panted Paul, flinging him- self against the door to bar the girl’s exit. “T was coming back from putting away the other one when I happened to look over the roof of the deck house and seen this one sneaking on board. I crouched behind a corner and let her walk smack into my MAICLOO© () Co SS Co