Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD-DUST RAJAH. story of his is just nothing more nor less than plain jealousy.”’ He grinned. ‘‘ Plain jealousy is one of the most dangerous little complexes in the world,” he retorted. ‘‘ But suppose we have some fun with Mr. Barker!” “ Philip, I’m not sure of him at all. And now I’m quite uneasy. So let’s not try to make him more jealous. On this trip I don’t want a single complication.” “What I suggest will be all your way,” he assured her. ‘“‘ Let this Barker, who- ever he is, go on thinking that you believe his tale. You might even inquire about China of me—not too cordially, of course, but in a cautious way. Express surprise that any white man should bury himself alive in a far-off place of this kind; and I’ll be uneasy, and evasive, and not answer you directly. Then we'll be able to study Mr. Barker.” “ We'll do it.” She gave his hand a lit- tle shake. “It’s a good thing to test men some- times,” he went on. ‘“ For instance, what kind of a deal will I get out of Mr. Barker when he thinks I’m here under cover? The measure of a man’s mercy is the measure of that man.” “ Exactly. And I’d like to watch, too. At any time we can make a frank state- ment of the truth. Meanwhile, of course, uncle will also have to think you’re an es- caped murderer or something, because— well, uncle isn’t very subtle.” She laughed at that. ‘If he knew who you are, Mr. Barker would have the information out of him straight off. But it isn’t going to be easy for me to pretend that we’ve just met.” “Tt ‘ll be a lark,” he answered. ‘“ Be very reserved with me when this Barker is around—snub me, if you want to. When we're alone, a smile or two will be all the more welcome.” He laughed. She also laughed. ‘By contrast. All right, it’s a bargain. But whatever do you think all these brown people of yours have been thinking—seeing us stand in this fool- ish fashion, holding each other’s hand?”’ He swung partly round to look where she nodded, and he looked at the watching crowd, something like affection in his eyes. 811 As if sensing his feelings toward them, and understanding him, the silent brown men and women returned his look with a more generous showing of their black teeth, and all those shining, sharp eyes glistened. ‘“They’re coming!’’ Marcia suddenly an- nounced. ‘“ Uncle and Mr. Barker. I shall sit down.” And she dropped back and under the ogee roof, losing her hat as she went, but regaining her seat in time, while Lansdell steadied the praz. Shod feet and bare were indeed ap- proaching. A moment later the Dyaks who had stayed to watch at the boats again gave way to right and left, letting Wray and Barker come through. The headman and his satellites on their heels. ‘‘ Ah, there you are!” sang out Barker as he caught sight of Lansdell. ‘“ We've been hunting you on the other side of the kampong. I forget your name, but mine’s Barker, and this is Mr. Wray, Miss Old- ham’s uncle.” He did not offer to shake hands, nor did the elder man, and Lansdell kept his own thrust into his pockets. ‘The faces of the two newcomers wore strange expressions. Wray was plainly surprised, and was star- ing and blinking at the man who was still Standing in the water. But Barker’s look was an open sneer. With that sneer was mingled something like resentment. Lans- dell was plainly too young, too well groomed and far too good-looking. Lansdell’s face was a study also. Under his pith head covering his eyes, squinting to hide their expression, bored through the pock-pitted countenance before him. How- ever, he was muscularly contriving to smile —in spite of the fact that his face was fair- ly stiffened by surprise. In Barker he had expected to see a man he had never seen before. And the truth was— Wray set his helmet on the back of his head and gave a jaunty wag of the head. “We want you to go upstream with us, Mr. Lansdell,” he announced. His tone said that the request honored the young man before him, and an answer of accept- ance was instantly expected. It came. “I'll be very glad to be of service.” “Thank you.” Wrav’s head jerked. An (CO) GIOok