Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

$26—Ct “ Mr. Gregor MeGregor,” he announced to the sentry, “to see Admiral Teach.” . _ F suppose this is the knight errant whe is vowed to reseue the distressed damosel from the horrible pirate,” Teach thought, as with a sardonic smile on Ins dark face he went down from the bridge. Mr. Gregor McGregor was at any rate the complete Scot, so far as aecent was eoncerned. He talked the purest Coocad- dens. He was—accordmg to his own ac- count—the string-puller of half the big oil companies of Glasgow City, and he owned 2 four-thousand-acre grouse moor in Suther- landshire.. He was the solid man both in figure and firance, and said though he came of High- Jand stock, he was born by mischance m Paisley. He tried to exude peat-smoke, but merely succeeded in creating an atmosphere ef whisky. “ Fhis is all mighty interesting,” said Teach after half an hour of glib local color. “ But suppose we switch off now to Ump- teenth Street, New York City, number for- gotten, tenth floor, and turn to the right after you step out of the express elevator. How’s the financial health of Grimehild’s at the monrent, amd why are they wanting me to go in partners with them?” “Ti no’ deny that I know Granchild’s,” the visitor admitted. “ In my posttion, a man rubs shoulders with all the big finance houses. Grunchild’s, as Griimchitd’s, de not appear in this business. Nor ‘do any of the other representative financial people. “<< Cryptol’ is just a syndicate, amd the names of the mem who compose it are not going to be disclosed, for—shall we say?— pelitical reasons. You'll appreciate that, admiral. The way you dragged Irish poli- ties into what—if you'll excuse my putting it that way—looked like plain old-fashioned piracy at the outset was just charming. It was that touch of genris which brought me here.”’ The pirate’ s heavy shoulders went back, and his grim mouth smiled. He was always a vail man. ‘“ Charming. You’ve set al? the politi- cians of Europe and America by the ears. Ireland was always the sore Place, and But I may tell you frankly that . ARGOSY-ALLSFORY WEFEEEY. you've made it sorer. Charnring—from the pomt of view of the Cryptol Syndicate. The world has decided you are a-.menace to civilization, admiral. But civilization is afraid just now to tackle you—because of frel “T hat’ s what I built on. Everybody, since Cromwell, has been afraid to handle Ireland. Amd even he stopped the good work when omy ome-third dene. He left the odd two-thirds of the Irish alive to be a nuisance since 1650—wasn’t it?—onward. If there’d been a strong man im sight among the politicians, E wouldn’t have risked it. But with the present lot on both sides of the Atlantic, the card F played was the safest in the pack. b BP “ Precisely. ‘Fhe Cryptot Syndicate rec- ognizes that, and backs it.” “ And proposes to charge 50 per cent for is troubler” Gregor McGregor did not shrug. His Scottish training remained firm and his Coocaddens accent untainted. But it was an effort. He had to stuff his hands into his trousers-pockets to keep thenr from waving automatically. “Tf you’ve got a better offer up your steeve, admiral, I'm: sure you won’t accept | ears. You're a business mam; pleased to meet you. I’m another. If we fix up a deal together, it’s got to be on strictfy busi- ness ines. I do see you've pot ladies om boasd, but—” “ One lady,” the pirate snapped. “ And we'll leave her entirely out of the conversa- tion. Get that?” “ Oh, certainly, if you make a point of it, though I am sure she was a very at- tractive lady. That short, black, wavy hair mekes any woman beautiful. But about these ships and their cargoes, admiral. We know you’ve got them stowed away somre- where. It’s about their crews to a large extent I’ve come here. “ Ff you’ve made them alt—er—wafk the plank, in the old Blackbeard faskton, I’m afrart there'll be nothing doing. But if there are a reasonable number of survivors, I believe the deal can go through comfort- ably enough.” “ There are quite a few survivors. Over ninety per cent, anyway. Of course, we COMIC OOO SH Colin