Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

130 “Yes, sir. I sent it to my dear little wife in Plymouth.” ‘““T wish you to rig the prisoner as the burghers were rigged, and bring him up here for sentence. Carry on.” ‘““ Very good, sir.”’ So presently Mr. McGregor-Murgatroyd was -haled before the pirate chief, with hands fastened behind his back, a hang- man’s noose around his neck, and a solid scare painted upon his drawn, white face. “Qh, it’s you, is it?’ said Teach. “‘ Standing between me and the sun? Well, good-by. I’m afraid you are for the Coals. Shirkers go there. Hope you don’t find them too hot.” ““ Aga—aga—aga—”’ said the prisoner. “Tf you would buck up and offer to do something useful for once in your life,” said Miss Arncliffe tartly, ‘“‘ you might still save that wretched skin you’ve been so careful about. If you want a value-basis to work from over these ships you're worrying about, take the sums they’re insured for. I guess they’re all covered for pretty well exact value these days. Now, what could be simpler?”’ ‘“‘ Aga—aga—I—excuse me; got a bit of chill—aga—very identical proposal that I wished to submit if aga—aga—aga—” “Pull yourself together, Mr. Murga- troyd. You’ve proved at home you are less than a man, but do try and show here you are something more than a monkey. If Ad- miral Teach sells you the fleet he’s cap- tured, what are you going to do after you’ve got it?” ‘“ Peddle the ships in China and Japan. We've buyers already fixed up. Those fel- lows can change a steamboat so its own builders won’t know it in half a month. But —but—-aga—aga—bunkers and grub are the main difficulties I have to arrange, but I am sure Admiral Teach, with. his won- derful resourcefulness, will have .a scheme for those. Tell me where your pirate har- bor is, and I can reckon out distances and full expenditure.” Teach distinctly preened. Miss Arncliffe - frowned at him. “ He’s captured an oiler and enough loaded colliers to carry the rest round the world and back again. Never mind about —- o * tee, 4d. ° b | ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. where the harbor is for the present. Yow'll be told about that in due time. ‘As regards food, three of-the ships are full of refrigerated meat. Now get to the main point. How are you going to pay? I’m sure you’ve that part of the scheme cut and dried. Money comes with you before ordinary decency, doesn’t it, Mr. Murga- troyd?”’ ' The man was stung into retort. “If you're referring to my keeping out of the war, I may tell you I sent my brother, and that seemed to me adequate. Besides, they didn’t appear inclined to offer me a com- mission after the conscription had come on, and you couldn’t expect me to go as a pri- vate, now, could you? I aga—aga— Teach was pointing with a steady finger. Mr. Murgatroyd’s knees twittered, and again speech failed him. | “And you, you worm, bragged in New York to William Arncliffe that you would bring back his daughter to him out of the | pirate’s clutches. I suppose that also was a business deal. I couldn’t imagine you doing anything except for money. “Come now. How much were you to get out of it? Well, as regards the ships, you'll stay here with the rope handy to your neck as a guarantee that the deal is | carried through without trap. Knowing how you value your own skin, I fancy that will be an adequate insurance for mine. “In the mean time I propose to hear from you in full detail how you propose to take Miss Arncliffe out of my piratical clutches and hand her over to her father.” “ Aga—aga—aga—” said Murgatroyd. ‘““Aga—aga—seaplane—aga—man’s dress— aga—aga—” “ Curse it,” snarled the pirate—" the fel- low’s fainted! Well, Mary, I think you’ll grant you're safer with me than with a knight errant of that caliber. Gallant fel- low, isn’t he?” | “ Pough! Fancy father sending a thing like that to help me! But he was funny about your private pirate’s harbor.” “He was genuine enough there. He hasn’t an idea where it is. We've kept that secret thoroughly at any rate, Mary, my dear,”’ °c EGORNIG OOO SS (COUNT