Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

812 Barker had gone up along the tethered canoes, bawling out an order to one Malay and another. The older man followed, waving certain venturesome Dyak boys out of his path. Lansdell faced about and leaned down to finger a bit of rattan tied into a thwart close to Marcia’s white shoes. ‘‘ Marcia,” he whispered. ‘“ Did you say this Barker is a new acquaintance? Where did you get hold of him?” She saw that something unexpected had happened. ‘“ Yes, new,” she replied. “Uncle met him on shipboard. They played cards together day and night. You're going to tell me he’s no good.” The other two white men were beyond hearing, watching a Malay give his favo- rite fighting cock a bath. About Lansdell and the girl were only the Dyaks and that squatting Chinese, the latter seemingly drowsing, between his right thumb and forefinger the never-absent cigarette. “No good,” repeated Lansdell, nodding. ‘“ Anyhow, the last time I saw him he was sitting on a bench in the yard of the white department of the Singapore jail.” “ Philip!” “Sorry to tell you, but you needn’t worry, for I'll never leave you out of my sight until you’re safe back on your home- bound boat. But I couldn’t make a mis- take about that swarthy, pitted visage of his, could 1? And the time I saw him he had the unhandsome decoration of the broad arrow.” CHAPTER II. SUSPICION. HEY did not get another chance to speak to each other in confidence during the remainder of that day. Wray came back, with a sort of pounding step, as if. he had made up his mind to something very firmly. It was not diffi- cult to guess just what that something was, either. For without a glance at Lansdell, he addressed Marcia: ‘Come out of that boat, my dear. Must be hot enough under there to fry an egg! I know you'll be more comfortable on the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, front porch of Mr. Lansdell’s house.” This was his way of asking hospitality of a tall young stranger who was reputed to be hid- ing from the elastic arm of the law. Lansdell said nothing, but across Wray’s bent head he gave the girl a quick nod and a warning look. The nod told her that she was not to object to occupying his house; the look cautioned her against paying him the compliment of asking his consent. When the quick hands of two Dyaks had brought. the praw a step or two nearer dry land, and Wray had helped his niece ashore, Lansdell was already out of sight beyond that section of the crowd which was now occupied with watching the land- ing of that veiled woman. Lansdell gave the creature a searching glance. It was not more than a glance; settled in his mind as to what type of man he would be dealing with when he came to be a part of this expedition with Barker, he was careful not to seem curious about this one Malay woman who had _ been brought along—knowing how quickly too much interest in her, seeing that she was back from a pilgrimage, would meet with Malay resentment. He found that Barker had been busy. From where the luggage and stores had been placed ashore, a string of Malays were now Starting villageward, each heavily loaded. Barker, as he superintended the work, was living up to his name, for he kept up a running fire of commands, in- terspersed with Malay expletives. When the last load had been lifted from the ground, he turned and strode along beside the carrier. Though Lansdell was, by then, at his very hand, Barker did not take any notice. He quickened his pace in order to catch up with the headman of his line. Arrived in front, he turned the direction of the leader so that all might go by the shortest route to the newest and largest hut of the kampong. This stood high on pillars of Ironwood on the outermost edge of the great clearing. Like all the other buildings of the place, it was set above a lower plat- form which was, itself, a few feet above the ground. Up to a wide, shady veranda with a bamboo floor, a veranda which was MICLOO© S CO CO