The Argosy, June 1904 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

A98 If it was so that Hawley could be benefited In any way by the reopening of the Fools Pocket, Lynn desired to ipproach him from that side. Then there would be some hope of his get- ting what he wanted—an acknowledg- ment without going to law of the rights of his sister and himself to their fa- her's half of the mine. And so he hoped to fall in with En- elebock. He had seen the Susannah’s captain but a minute or two. Ue looked an ordinary scaman; perhaps a bit sul- len, but more companionable in all probability over a friendly glass. And Lynn would have loved to pump him. He wandered down one side of the estate—that nearest the village—and then followed the river path behind the big house. He saw nobody but the dogs, who ran down and fawned upon him, for they had come to consider hin an old friend. He felt hke a spirit thrust forth from Paradise. He had been doubly welcome et the smith’s house until a few hours agone. He heartily cursed Chris Greg- ory. “Yet it would have to come some time. ‘They would have to know—she would have to know,” he thought. He walked on till he came to the shed which sheltered old Jethro Haw- lev’s invention. For the lack ef some- thing better to do, he went inside again und reexamined the odd- looking diving bell. “It’s a regular house,” he thought. ‘1 wonder if the thing could really be made to work—or, rather, one fike it? What did Hawley ever ilo, now, when he went away from ’Frisco with Pres- ion Shaw? “Tle was not a man fit for anv ordi- nary work. Could it be possible that he made something out of this subma- rime idea, after all? “But if so, why was it never heard from! ? Who ever heard of the name of Jethro Tlawiey im the world of science? And why, if he became a successful inan, did he not come back to Ins home and family again?” He was turning away from the coffin- like box when he was rather startled bv a cackling laugh which he recognized instantly. He glanced owt of the shed PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG THE ARGOSY. and beheld the Shaw woman, in her short petticoat and high cap, with a cane in her hand, gazing in at the open door. “he looked like a picture of a witch Which lynn remembered used to be in a nursery book when he was a child. She laughed again when she saw him come out, and she raised her cane and pointed it at the iron tank. “What do you think of it? do you think of it, young asked. “Isn°’t it a fine thing-—isn’t it fine?” She broke into a laugh again, adding, with apparent diseust, « FoR Pocket—-aye, that’s a most excellent name of it!” Lynn halted and stared at her. he old tady still muttered and shook her eane at Jethro Hawley’s submarine in- vention. “Is that the name of it, madam?” he asked politely. ™ Ph: at’s the name J give it, voung man,” she said tartly. ‘And a vood one it ix, Pll be bound. A fool built it, and fools have been jyunketing with it ali these years. Ave, fools! fools!” Ifer voice ended in an angry squeak. Lynn waited in surprise to hear what What sir?’ she further she might say. She came close to him and put a clawlike hand on his arm. She wore old-fashioned black lace mits which ae- centuated the leanness of her hands, and duynn could not keep lis eyes off that elaw which elutehed him. " Young man,’ nity, “how would you like to your life in a thing like that? you do it—-say, W ould your” She erew animated, and her cyes sparkled, ‘Haven't I named it well? If you feared the maunderings of a mad wo- man and hid yourself! in a thing like that, you'd be a fool, and that would be the Fool’s Pocket, eh? Then, haven’t I named it right 2” “Ty think you fave, madam,” he re- spend Would “ ae es, LS man of sense would say <0.” declared the old creature. “ And think of the years—think of the years! He used to come and see me; but he never comes now. “ Still, I can’t complain. Why oul ” she said with solem- COmicbooolkks CO ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED