The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

CASTAWAYS OF “IT guess he will have to be sacrificed. The greatest good for the greatest number is our slogan.” The horror Lumley felt was too deep for words. But it was not a time to argue the point, for he was hungry, and a hungry man’s mind is not at its best. . “Where are the rest of our friends who escaped with me?” he inquired. “McWilliams and Lindley were picked up by an air-ship belonging to the department of customs; Kinch and Mortimer were rescued by a detach- ment of muglugs under command of Jerry Dicks. Now that you and Jeffer- son Plunkett are accounted for, the only man missing is Dr. Kelpie. I presume that he and Plunkett are in the hands of the guards.” At. this moment Simpson began bringing in a number of covered dishes and placing them on the table. The appetizing odor he brought with him was most delightful. His final act was to place half a dozen cigars in the center of the table and push up a couple of chairs. “ All ready, sir,’”’ he announced. “Come, Lumley,” said Jernyngham, and got up and started toward the table. Lumley was smiling and rubbing his hands. He was very certain that never in his whole life had he been so nearly famished as he was at that moment. They paused on their way to the. table, startled by cries from the chart- room. Before Jernyngham could in- vestigate the cause of the commotion, a short, fat man came puffing through the office door. His face was red and his little eyes glimmered. In one hand he held a small revolver, of the ancient 1900 pat- tern, and he fanned the point of it back and forth so that it covered impartially Jernyngham, Lumley, and Simpson. “Stand where you are!” he com- manded in a stuffy, determined voice. “ Jeff—Jefferson Plunkett! ’’ whis- pered Lumley, astounded. “Yes,” answered the man with the weapon, a deadly menace in his tones, THE YEAR 2000. 159 “ Jeff Plunkett, on the road for Lockett & Biggs, hardware. This is a sample gun that I happened to find in my pocket. There are five lives in the cylinder, by James! Don't forget that. Sit down!” “But I ‘Say, Plunkett,” began Jer- nyngham, “ we were about to—’’ “Sit down!’ exploded Plunkett, wrathfully. Simpson did not wait to find a chair, but wilted to the floor. Jernyngham and Lumley backed warily to the seats they had just vacated and dropped into them again. Still. watching the three, Plunkett moved to the table, took a chair facing them and rested the elbow of his gun- hand on the white linen. “‘ Now, listen,’ he went on. “ I’m going to have a square meal, and you are going to stay right where you are and watch me eat it. If one of you makes a move, or speaks a word be- fore I light a cigar, there’ll be fire- works. I don't know a thing about electric guns and thunderbolts, but Buffalo Bill himself hasn’t anything on me when it comes to juggling a re- volver.” Cautiously Jefferson Plunkett laid the weapon beside his plate and pro- ceeded to relieve the very large famine that had afflicted him for twenty-four hours. Lumley watched him wistfully, even if a little fearfully, while Jer- nyngham looked on with humorous resignation. CHAPTER XIV. STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS. JEFFERSON PLUNKETT made a clean sweep of everything on the table. Double portions of ham and eggs, fried potatoes, and toast vanished from be- fore him like magic. As the food disappeared his com- placency grew. When the plates were empty he selected a cigar, sniffed at it with the fastidiousness of a connois- ‘seur, smiled gratefully and lighted it; oO COMmMiclhoo S CO