The Argosy, April 1916 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

“2 folding the wireless message and dropping it into a basket on the reading-table. “Will you let him in, Michael? Some one’s com- CHAPTER XI. DOUBLE-SKEINED CRAFT. A® Michael opened the door from the en- trance hall the collie, tan of body with white paws and a fluffy collarette of white, bounded into the room barking, and ran directly to the captain. | “All right, Scott,” the latter told him gently as he patted the dog’s head. “That'll do.” from one to the other of the little gathering until he came to Susan. He muzzled her hand and stood by her, waving his plumy tail in sheer content. From the doorway Michael Sands had announced: “Captain Neville, William Ransom to see you, sir.” With this Michael saluted and stepped aside, revealing Ransom, giant of frame and puny of skull, in which his eyes were sunk like small beads. His mulatto skin was orange and his whole bearing hinted a queer mixture of trepidation and temerity. “Come in, Ransom,” the captain called out, “‘and say what you have to say before us all. We all are interested, and we have been patient.” The captain cast a glance at the clock on the shelf over the fireplace behind him. From this position, his back to the north wall, Captain Neville dominated the scene. Oscar Molle and Michael Sands stood at his left; Miss Addison and Susan gradually retreated a few steps, as if by concert, down the right side of the hall. As Ransom advanced ‘one could almost imagine the hall transformed into a court- room in which the overseer was to make his plea of guilty or not guilty. Captain Neville was erect, impassive, cold—a stern judge. The two men and the two women were as indistinguishable as witnesses always are until they go on the stand. Really there were but two living people there—the cap- tain and William Ransom, overseer of the Settlement. “Captain,” the overseer began in his high, monotonous voice, “I came myself and didn’t send no answer back by Jolly The dog ceased barking and pattered THE ARGOSY. George as you requested, because I had to keep you waiting—er—a fittle. It took time to make the folks down there under- stand just how you meant what is best for them, which I tried to do, and I succeeded.” “Glad to hear that, Ransom,’ Captain Neville observed emotionlessly. “Thank you, sir.” Ransom touched his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “And we'll report, sir, on parade here at the west front to-morrow morning at nine according to your orders.” ‘Which means you are all prepared, I must understand,” said the captain, ‘‘to take up again in the regular way your work at the cocoanuts and other things on the plantation.” “Oh, yes, sir,’ Ransom replied with alacrity. “Capital, Ransom!” the captain re- turned. ‘“‘Always obey orders and you'll be content and out of trouble. By the way, when you and the others report to-morrow morning bring the guns and ammunition you had in the boat that carried the other stores.” “Guns and ammunition Ransom echoed, staring in stupefaction. “No such a possibility, captain.” “Are you trying to tell me, Ransom, that you fellows went to all the trouble and risk of building a boat on the sly in order to get a few stores from the mainland? Why, you could have pilfered as much to eat and wear as was in that cargo from our stores here! You could have pilfered the stuff little by little in far less time than it took to build the boat.” “Upon my word, captain—”’ began Ran- som. But the captain cut him short with: “We'll have none of your word at pres- ent, Ransom. It’s not legal tender on this island until you’ve proved it such by a re- form in your conduct and management of the Settlement—a reform extending over a certain period also, to show that it’s last- ing. Meanwhile we hold Black Henry as hostage. We're not ill-treating him, but he must remain with us at present.” — “Oh, we'll surely show reform, captain,” Ransom protested. “Glad to hear it, Ransom. Ill remind you as you set to it of what you have to live down. _ “First, the lie and deceit of making us at Half-moon House believe that Black |? Henry, Jake Haas and Sailor Pete were MICLOOOK C@