The Argosy, April 1916 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

FOOLS OF duo was so overpowering that they could do no more than gaze in open-mouthed silence. They had known, to be sure, that some one was in the kitchen behind the palm-curtain; but they believed it must be a man from the Settlement, or Overseer Ransom would not have allowed them to state the reason of their errand to his cottage. Jake Haas was the first to regain his speech. “ Die verpfitichte, snake-woman! ” he gasped. “Himmels Name! How did she done it yet?” CHAPTER XVI. RANSOM’S SECRET. "THE frantically hurried whisper of a voice from the palm-curtain suddenly electrified the four men. “Mr. Ransom! Mr. Ransom!” it said. ‘““They’s a comin’ down the road!” It was Mother Juliet who sounded the alarm from the trap-door in the kitchen floor. Ever since the overseer and Danforth had climbed the ladder she had been passing from window to window in the cellar con- stantly. As a mark of Ransom’s superior station his cottage stood apart from all the others of the Settlement on a slight rise of ground. The site was bare of trees or shrubbery except for the hedge that grew up close to- the house on the side half-facing the Settle- . ment. It was inside this hedge that Mother Juliet had temporarily secreted Danforth the previous night during the short parley she had with Ransom. On the remaining three sides the cellar- windows were effective as lookouts to espy any visitor from whichever way approach- ing. In the luminous starlight the watchful seeress saw at a considerable distance three figures, padding steadily along the roadway that led from the big house. As soon as he heard her whispered warn- ing Ransom darted toward Danforth, seized his hand and murmured: “If you please, sir. There’s danger!” as he fairly pulled the man back into the kitchen. “The cellar! Quick!” and with the ut- tered injunction the overseer raised the trap-door. — SACRIFICE, 125 Nimble as a cat, Danforth pattered down the ladder and stepped back out of harm’s way on landing below. It was black in darkness. He expected the others to hop down after him. Instead he heard the trap-door close softly. Returning to the living-room in three swift strides, Ransom encountered Jake and Pete seated round the table. The lamp on the table was lighted and the lantern, now extinguished, stood under ‘it. The ship’s carpenters were each holding a hand of cards. Ransom’s hand lay ready for him in front of his chair. Beside the cards not in play were a pencil and sheets of paper scribbled with tallies of the game. The three men fell into their game of pinochle as naturally as if they had been playing for hours. They had rehearsed this comedy many times in the course of a year or more. The cards were always at hand in the drawer of the table and also the score-sheets, which were renewed occasionally when they really played a game. One hand had been played and a new one was being dealt by Sailor Pete when Ransom pushed back his chair with a slow, scraping noise to show his deliberation, and stood up to answer a heavy knock at the door. Michael Sands and the Brothers ap- peared as he opened it. The latter lingered on the threshold, but Michael advanced a few paces toward the table. “"’D evening, gentlemin,” he greeted them, bobbing his flaming red poll to each in succession. “I hope I see you all winnin’ at the cards. ’Tis a pleasant manner of whilin’ away the dull hours, that is to say, as ’twere, the flip of the cards chases the clock.” “Oh, this is merely a friendly game, Master Sands,”’ the overseer returned cordi- ally. ‘‘We can’t win or lose very much.” “°Tis best. ’Tis bein’ on the safe side, Mr. Overseer,” Michael observed with an appreciative stroke of the feathers of Ransom’s office. ‘A little message from Captain Neville is what I’m here for, how- ever.” The men pricked up their ears, craning their necks toward him in rapt attention. Jake and Pete at least hoped that it had to do with the liberation of Black Henry. “‘A minor matter, that is to say, as ’twere, Comicoooks Cc C@