Adventure, November 1915 — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

170 “Oh, yes! He was in his room minding his own business, was he!” cried Farley tri- umphantly. “I knew he had something to do with this. He fooled you nicely, Dacy, with his help for your moll——”’ “Shut up!” snapped Dacy: “He killed Henderson!’ declared Farley. “By ——,, Ill get him!” I was rooted where I stood by the over- whelming suddenness of it. Farley’s hand plunged toward his hip. “Stop that!’ ordered Dacy, towering © above the other. self.” Farley subsided, cursing fearfully in a steady stream. Dacy wheeled upon me. His voice was menacing, yet there was not in his eyes the ferocious gleam I expected. “You have been up to some sort of game, McNeil,” he said. ‘You know what I promised would happen to you if you made any move against the expedition.” My heart pounded, my head swam diz- zily. I glanced out of the corner of my eyes toward the pantry door. Dooin had disap- peared. I was a rat in acorner. I cursed Dooin for his cowardice. I cursed myself for leaving Henderson’s gun behind. “IT always keep my promises,” continued Dacy’s smooth voice. He whipped his hand in sight above the “T’ll attend to that, my- table-edge, and I stared into the black tun- | nel of an automatic. “Nein—not dot!”’ burst out Von Werner. “Unpleasant, but necessary,’ continued Dacy. “Roger! Roger! No, no!” The cry, shrill and terror-stricken, came from behind me. My heart leaped. “When I count three,”’ Dacy was saying, his eyes never leaving mine. ‘‘(One——” There was a tremendous impact of sound upon my ears. Dacy tumbled backward upon the divan, as if some giant, invisible hand had swept him from his feet. I wheeled about, my ears ringing from the explosion. Mary Morrison stood in the doorway, a smoking counterpart of Dacy’s revolver in her hand. She was staring round-eyed at the spot where Dacy had been standing an instant before. She gave a choked, hysterical cry, drop- ped the gun and dashed forward. The par- alysis of surprise was upon us all. Not a man moved as she sped across the room. She flung herself down beside the divan. We crowded forward. Dacy was sprawled Adventure upon his back. A stream of blood welled from his hair and stained the cushion and his cheek. “Roger! Roger!” called Mary. Despair and horror were in her cry. She daubed futilely at the red stain with her bare hand. She leaned over the bloodied face and passionately kissed the lips. It was a suddenly materialized Dooin and Farley, who dragged her away. She stag- gered back against the table, and Farley leaned over the Captain. Mary swayed toward me. “‘He’s dead—he’s dead!” she gasped. But the whole world seemed tumbling about my ears. She called him—she kissed him—she loved him! “You lied!’ I told her hoarsely. ‘“‘You said you cared, and you lied! You love him!” “T love him,” she echoed, and her whis- pered words were like hammer-strokes upon my brain. “I love him—and I cared, I cared enough to kill him.” She plucked at her throat as if she were suffocating. Her voice rose in a queer, strangled scream. “TI killed him!” she cried. “My own brother— I have killed my own brother!” “He is not dead,” spoke up Farley. He stood up. His face was working, and ~ the fancy struck me that it was disappoint- ment he was biting upon. But it was a subconscious impression—I was stunned by Mary’s words. “He is only creased,”’ continued Farley. “‘He is coming around already.” At the words Mary flung herself upon | the prostrate form and lifted the Captain’s head. Distinctly, I heard him sigh. “But you—you shall pay me, now!’ Farley rasped at me. . He backed away from me, his right hand behind him. My wits were swirling, but I sensed the menace in his voice and glare. “Nein, nein! I will nod haf it so!’’ came from Von Werner. The German leaped in front of me, cov- ering me with his own body. “You may nod shoot,’’ he said to Farley. “Der Captam, yes—nod you.” Von Werner’s hand was in his coat-pock- et, and the garment was thrust forward, a most suggestive bulk. I noticed Dooin, bending over-the girl, but watching Farley. out of the corner of his eyes. And Farley, though he choked upon his rage, and an evil blasphemy slid from his lips, heeded the S CORMICLOOC (E@)