Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

104 Murray nodded his head slowly, and sank back in his seat. ‘Sure, you are a lad after my own heart,” he said. ‘That was well thought of. ’Tis checkmate—for this present.” “Nonsense,” stormed de Veulle. “Why should we fear his trumpery tales? Who are we to be denounced by him?” “Because I know somewhat of Governor Burnet,” replied Murray good-humoredly. “Nay, chevalier, I dislike to yield my point - as much as any man; but Master Ormerod hath stopped us. We must have a truce.” But he reckoned without Marjory. The lady of the green cloak stood forward in the center of the cabin, passionate indignation shaking her whole figure. “Oh, why do you talk like this?” she ex- claimed. “Are we criminals that we must bargain with a criminal? It is as if we were embarked upon an enterprise as vile as his life of spying and intrigue!” I had not made any headway in regaining her good opinion ’twas evident, and that must be the excuse for my barbed retort. “You show unwonted sensibility, my lady,” I said. “Sure, no men with good consciences would stoop to bargain with such as I.” “T fear me, Marjory,” said Murray gently “that. you have no appreciation of the tangled path which must be trod by those who concern themselves with affairs of state. The good and. the bad are strangely inter- mingled. Sometimes we must consort with those we despise in order to gain a good cause. Sometimes we must use tools which irk us to fashion a policy to a righteous end. Sometimes we must stoop to tricks and plays which soil and shame. “It can not be otherwise. And after all, what does it matter that you and I have cause to regret, if we may see the attain- ment of our goal? Shall we regret the pay- ment of a bitter price? *Twould be parsi- monious, I say. ’Tis not we who count, who are but pawns; but the cause we serve.” *T like it not,” she flamed. “Like it or not, ’tis inevitable.” He turned to me. “Tt seems then, Master Ormerod, that we must proclaim a truce for the time being.”’ “It is your necessity,” I told him flatly. “And yours,” he returned urbanely. ‘What guarantees shall we exchange?” I thought. ‘Why, we can neither afford to risk the Adventure denunciation of the other,” I said at last. “You, because you know that the Pro- vincial Government would seize any excuse to incommode you. I, because I know that the Provincral Government would find it difficult to protect me against your charge, even though it exploited mine.”’ ‘The advantage would seem to be on my side,”’ he remarked tentatively. I leaned across the table so that his eyes met mine fully. ‘“‘Not so much as you might think,” I as- serted. ‘‘Have I the look of one who would fail in a desperate venture?” ‘“‘No, no,” he answered smilingly. ‘So be it, then. But the truce holds good only for the period of our voyage together?” ‘That is understood,” I agreed. His eyes hardened. “Did you ever hear of the Red Death and the Black Death, Master Ormerod?” I shook my head, puzzled. “You have met the Black Death. You have yet to meet the Red Death. And you may meet the Black Death again,” he added as Tom groaned where he lay on the floor. Marjory shuddered. “Enough of this!’ she exclaimed. “Is it understood there is to be no killing on this ship?” “Tt is, my dear,’ Murray responded. “And now I think you had best withdraw. This has been a trying interview for you, I fear.” She looked from one to the other of us, as if half in doubt; and then gathered her cloak around her. We all three, as with one ac- cord, bowed low as she stepped into the passage. Murray opened a lanthorn and snuffed the candle within. “You must be weary, Master Ormerod,” he said solicitously. “It hath been a trying evening for you, too, I fear.” “Ah, the devil played a strong hand, Mas- ter Juggins,” de Veulle chimed in, with a yawn. “You do not object to your old name, I hope? It fits you like a snug shirt.” “Not in the least,’ I retorted. ‘‘’Tis an honest name. You will note, I hope, that the devil, as always, was checkmated, even though he had two of the minor fiends of darkness at his elbow.” Murray laughed, the fine, resonant laugh of a well-bred, honorable gentleman. C© MICLOOOKS (©