Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

THE RADIO BEASTS. Yuri turned and faced his accuser, but still kept one arm around the princess, who Stared at Cabot almost unseeing out of dull and weary eyes. The king appeared a Nit surprised, but nevertheless maintained the calm which was so typical of him. “Yuri, your end has come,” announced the earth-man, “‘ and with your death there begins a slaughter which shall not cease until every black Formian is driven from the face of this planet. For only so can war be banished forever.” “Ts that so?” sneered the king. ‘‘ And may I ask who it was that first brought war here from Minos?” | Cabot winced. The accusation was true. “That is neither here nor there,” he as- serted. ‘‘ Maybe I did bring war; but, if so, what I have commenced I shal! finish.” “ Certainly not,” exclaimed Yuri, curling his lip in scorn. ‘‘ Behold, I am unarmed. Is it the custom on your planet to shoot down unarmed men? JI had thought better, even of a beast from Minos.” “Tf you thought so, then you made the mistake of your life,” replied Cabot, “ for I am no story-book character. Often have I read, in tales of chivairous adventure, how the hero, having the villain finally at bay. gave him his chance, and then vanquished him in fair fight. If I had only mysel1 to think of, O king, I would fling this gun aside, and strangle you with my bare hands. But what of the princess and of Cupia? I have no right to sacrifice Lilla’s happiness and the safety of my country on the altar of my own personal honor. That would he selfish indeed!” “Wisely | spoken,” princess. “ And so,” Myles continued, “ armed or unarmed, you die!” And he raised his pistol. “Just a moment,” put in Yuri hurriedly. seeming for the first time a bit perturbed. ‘Since you entered this chamber a door has automatically slid shut behind you, thus barring your exit. If you do not be- lieve me, you can back up, still keeping me covered, and feel of it. That door is so thick and so secure that you could never break through it. I, and I alone, know the interjected the 907 secret of that door. I am not afraid to die, though it is a bit unpleasant to be killed by a coward; but, unless you spare mv life, neither you nor the princess will ever leave this room.” “Better a wise coward than a brave fool,’ ’ quoted Myles from one of Poblath’s proverbs. ‘ That may be,” resumed the king testi- ly, “but, as I have said, if you kill me, you will never leave this room. Your only hope of escape is to spare my life.” Cabot considered for a moment. Natur- ally he did not believe Yuri, yet how simple to test him by trying the door. Just as he was about to do this, however, he remembered something. “ Your threat holds no terror for me,” he asserted. ‘“‘ Nan-nan directed me here. If I do not reappear, he will bring hordes of my followers to batter down your door.” Yuri laughed a sneering laugh. “You lose!” said he. ‘ Did not this Nan-nan, of whom you speak, wear the uni- form of my bodyguard?” Cabot grudgingly admitted it. “JT thought so,” resumed the usurper in triumph. ‘“ Know then that I sent Nan- nan to lure you here, so that you might be- come my victim.” The earth-man’s suspicions were aroused. Whom could he trust? Then he reflected that Yuri was unarmed, which fact seemed to knock the bottom out from under his story. An unarmed person would scarcely have given orders to have an armed per- son sent to him as a prospective victim. Why not try the door, however. That would determine in a measure whether Yuri lied. But as Myles started to put this plan into effect, he was stayed by the sound of a human voice, a strange and raucous human voice. Could he be dreaming? Had his mind given way under the strain of his many vicissitudes? For there were no human voices on Poros. Yet there could be no mistaking the sound. It was not the radiated antenne speech of Poros. It was a real human voice smiting against his human ears. Cabot stood still in perplexity. TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK GIOok