Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

J ; f tf ile 4 NER MSR ASR PA Fe EIT RAL TE MAL ONG AYER AW Mle PROPEL Ara has LAE DER Tk OE a ie erets of the organization. What am I goin’ to do with her? Let her go so she can tell what she knows? men.” Old habit was strong with them. The thought of the “ organization ” had entered All scowled at me into their very souls. and muttered—even Bill. Jessie saw that her influence over them was slipping. ‘“ You all know me,” she cried. “I will answer for this girl as for myself!” * But Tim Helder shook his head. ‘ You took too much on yourself, my girl, he said. 7 ey say to the cellar, with her,” said Black Kate. “ We can't afford to take any - chances.” “You're right!” cried Sam loudly. ~The others seemed half inclined to agree. If I had been a man, I expect I would have received short shrift at their hands. But in the eyes of all of them, except Sam, I could perceive a certain reluctance to hurt a woman. “Who's goin’ to do it?” muttered Fingy Silo. ing look at me that made my blood run cold. Fingy turned away with a shrug. My mistress was not at all dismayed. ““ She helped me bring in half a million to- night,” she said coolly. “Is that nothing? I say test her out, and if she makes good, take her in with us.” - “That’s not for you to say!” cried Black Kate furiously. “No harm in givin’ her a show,” growled Bill, “No!” cried Tim Helder. women, the more trouble!” ‘Vou all know the orders,” cried Black Kate. ‘Strike instantly at anything that threatens the organization. That’s how it’s always been preserved.” “Put it up to the boss,” said Jessie. Black Kate’s expression changed. Star- ing hard at Jessie, she pulled down the cor- “The more ners of her mouth in a derisive and hateful smile, ‘I’ve no objection to doing that,” she said. “Ill call him up first thing in the morning. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY I leave it to you, “T will,” said Black Kate, with a gloat- - ous situation when I looked at it. WEEKLY. “You ain’t helpin’ your friend none by that,” said Bill uneasily to Jessie. ‘‘ The boss, he picks his people wherever he has a mind to. He ain’t goin’ to stand to have one shoved down his throat.” te Tl take my chance of that,” said Jes- sie, boldly bluffing. ‘ When he hears who - ghe is and what she’s done, he'll be glad to get her,” several of the men aniled rather pity- ingly at Jessie. ~““Get back to your bed,” said Black Kate. — ‘There was no great haste to obey her. “Whaddya mean, brought in half a mil- lion?” Bill Combs asked of Jessie mith strong curiosity. — By way of answer, Jessie retired into a corner of the room, and turned her back on them. “Get out! cried Black Kate furiously, trying to shepherd them with her arms. “You all know you got no concern with each other’s jobs.” — But Jessie already had it out. She whipped around, holding the tiara aloft on her two hands. “ Look, boys, look! ae Russian Crown jewels! 7 ‘Black Kate made a vicious snatch at it, but Jessie coolly held it out of her reach. Kate collided with Bill, who thrust her in- differently to one side. ‘“ No harm to take a look,” he growled. — | “Meanwhile Jessie was crying: “Look! Look! Look!” and exhibiting the treasure all around. The glittering bauble in Jessie’s hands cast a spell on everybody in the room. All else was forgotten. Even I forgot my peril- How can I describe it? It was as if dozens of parti-colored little suns were rising out of Jessie’s hands. The thing had a truly infer- nal beauty. But it was not its beauty which cast the spell. The hearts of those rough men were hard to beauty. It was the spell of immeasurable riches which lighted the shine of cupidity in their eyes, and caused their lips to part, and their breath to come quickly. Gleaming black pearls as big as sparrows’ eggs; flashing diamonds; rubies - like dragon’s eyes, and the cold fire of enor- mous emeralds, greener than the sea. Eomicbooks:.co