Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

612 Dineen here. She’s gone, I took = over - to the missionary’s in a native canoe last night. _ “T don’t allow that you’ve any right to interview her, but I suppose Mr, or Mrs. Melville may have. The chap in the launch said they were coming ashore. I know just how far I can mix in this, I'll show them a blue print chart of Twenty-Stick. They'll have to have it to find the missionary’s landing. It’s hidden from the sea and it isn’t an easy place to get into. Il go with them if necessary.” He almost managed a whine at the end, He had gradually lowered his voice after the sentence stating that the girl had left in a canoe. If only she would comprehend. He believed he had taken the right line with Carter. His arrogance would be apt to presume that an “understrapper ”’ would wilt before his superior position and the show of the gun. ‘Likely yarn,” answered Carter. “ We'll see when we get into the house. Beginning to find your place, are you?” “ Yes, sir,” Thorpe forced himself to an- swer in alow tone. He would take payment for all this later, he assured himself. “Damned if I don’t believe you’re the innocent sort of sucker who’d try to play Sir Galahad,” chuckled Carter, and Jimmy’s heart leaped. “It’s hard to think the girl would tumble for you. She’s a cunning little fox. But Dll take charge of that chart. And you won’t go along. This is my party and Melville 71] keep out of it, if he’s wise. I’ve got a few things up my sleeve for Mel- ville any time he tries to run me. An’ he knows it. Smart enough to make money, but I’m smart enough to know Low he made it. I could spill some official beans for him, any time.’ VII. Tey were on the veranda now. Jimmy walked with his head down. The room was - clear of any suggestion of the girl. He knew that. Carter, flushed with his own cleverness, was in a boasting mood, his vanity giving him assurance that the girl would not have flouted him and favored this trader’s clerk. _ They went inside, and Jimmy walked ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘slowly over to the table. Carter looked around smartly with a grin on his face, - “Quite a dump,” he said, “ Musical, too. And books. My! Hello, who’s this?” Thorpe’s heart sank. Somebody had en- tered from the inner door. But it was not the girl. It was Faata. And that was com- plication enough as he was forewarned from the light in Carter’s eyes he surveyed Faata, looking at him askance. “We'll test out your yarn,” Carter said. “¢ Does this cross-eyed hag talk English?” Jimmy let himself slump into the chair. Not all of his dejection was feigned. Faata had the mind of a twelve-year old, smart enough, but not dependable. But her eyes flashed with quick offense; she began to blow out her cheeks. There was a slight cast in Faata’s eyes, really noticeable only when she was excited. There were times when Faata had persuaded herself it added. piquaney to her dusky charms; ‘nevertheless, it was a sore spot for uutsiders to touch. her vocabulary, but the tone convinced her that here was an added insult. “ What name you speak along of me that way?” she demanded. * No offense. Names don’t hurt. Here’s a dollar. Swer my questions.” He laid the bills on the table, but Faata did not take them. Her full lips seemed buttoned in as she regarded Carter, ponder- ing his epithets. Carter had lowered his gun, but he still had the best of it, and his suspicions were not lulled. Jimmy dared not look at Faata. He saw the door to the sleeping room was closed. “ Five dollars—I’ll make it ten,” said Carter, “if you'll tell me what happened — to the girl that came here last night.” — “ White Mary?” “ That isn’t her name, but she’s a White Mary so far as you’re concerned, I sup- pose. Where is she?” “ White Mary she come along last night,” began Faata, while Jimmy listened apprehensively. He had made up his mind to throw the chair at Carter and dodge be- hind the table, pulling out the drawer to get the gun, if— “She plenty too much wet. Plenty cry. Too much trouble.” 2A EGOmMmIcbooks “ Hag” was beyond | I'll give you five more if you an- . (©)