Adventure, November 1915 — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

| Gold at Sea > / ~ “That gave Dacy his chance. He must have suspected something by this time. He had a double motive in killing Ralder—to avenge the insult, and to remove a danger. He wounded Worden, also Farley’s chief man in the forecastle. And when Hender- son’s body was discovered, he was actually grateful to you. ‘Well, the death or disabling of his three lieutenants weakened Farley immensely. But he carried out his plans anyway. What happened after he killed Oates I don’t know for sure, but he did lead an attack upon Dacy. *‘Dacy won, as we know. I daresay Far- ley had gone to join Ralder and Henderson by the time we reached the beach. And then came Dacy’s finish.” Dooin paused. For a while we were both silent, busied with our thoughts. Mingled thoughts, mine were, of Dacy, and of some one else. . ‘And that is all for that!’’ continued Doo- in suddenly. ‘The end of the biggest job I ever bumped into. The gold is back in New York, and Haffner will end his days in prison. ‘And now for the good news! How would you like to be rich, Mac? Money comes in handy when a sport has a girl.” “Don’t jest with serious matters,” I told He chortled in high glee. “Over in a bank in Norfolk,” he said, “there is a nice little nest-egg waiting for you to come and grab it. A hundred and fifty thousand cold simoleons stacked up against the name of D. McNeil.” = Ps are you saying?’’ I cried, star- ed. ““Yep—you get a hundred and fifty thou- sand. It is a reward. You see, those Big- bugs up in New York got to talking it over and reading my report. They decided they wouldn’t miss that much out of twelve mil- lion dollars they never expected to see again. So they deposited that much to your ac- count, and added a heartfelt letter of thanks which the doc will show you if you ask him. Those sports figured that you did a whole lot to save the stuff for them, and they are almighty grateful.” I slowly digested this morsel. It was 181 wonderful news. It solved the problem for Mary and me. Dooin beamed. “Picking out the bungalow?” he demand- ed. “What do you get?” I demanded. “Oh, I still have my little job,” he grin- ned cheerfully. I said nothing, but I made the vow that half of the windfall would be “stacked up against the name” of Archibald Dooin, very shortly. — . “So now you have the straight of it all,” Dooin said, after a moment. ‘And I bet- ter beat it before that doctor comes after me with an ax. I was only supposed to stay five minutes.” He grasped my hand in a hearty grip. “So long,” he said. “See you tomorrow. Give my regards to the little lady. Tell her I said she was a brick.”’ And the door closed behind him. I LAY for a long time after Dooin’s departure, dreaming of the new life ~ his words had opened tome. It was a strange and wonderful life I pictured—I who had known poverty all my days, and who had never known love of woman. It was like dreaming of heaven. Finally I went to sleep. When I awoke again it was night. The _ shaded light threw a shadow upon the wall. I was conscious of a presence by my side. The presence! 3 3 A hand lightly brushed my hair and rest- ed upon my brow—cool, and soft, and con- veying a sense of infinite restfulness. [I lift- ed my hand and touched it, and at the sud- den rustle by my side, I turned my head. She was seated by my side, and the lamp lighted her face, a thinner face than I re- membered, very beautiful, but with little drooping lines about the red lips. Her eyes were wonderful in their bigness and bright- ness. We looked long at each other. Her bosom heaved and her lips parted: In her eyes I saw the light that a woman gives to one ‘man only. ““Mary—my love!” I said. She leaned toward me. Her breath, like warm sweet milk, was upon my nostrils. Our lips met. THE END Com () LDOOLKSS + Ae Reece i - Roe aw, ae | xa ~ mm > “