Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

SOFT MONEY. “T think they call it the “pig?” sigs = - gested Rod. oe “Well, whatever it is you'll stay there” = Then I'll have © you handed over ‘to the police and youll probably get five years in a British jail. > looked Higginson squarely in the eye and determined on his line of action. “Higginson,” he said, ‘if you didn’t steal those jewels, you are going to shoot me, and it will be all right. But I think you stole them. If you did, and you shoot me, you will be held and investigated and the whole of your criminal past brought up before you get away. And then they’ll hang you. So I don’t think you are going to shoot me. Anyway, I’m going to take a chance. Pull the trigger if you want to.” He closed in steadily. Higginson pointed the gun directly at him, but he continued to advance. With his left hand the man drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. His right, holding the eun, dropped. : ‘““T won’t shoot you,” he said. ‘‘ You are a nervy yegg. I did not steal those jewels, but I have reasons for not wishing to be mixed up in a shooting affray, and, rather than do so, I’ll let you search me. But after you are through, I will go to the captain and report the outrage. And I will prosecute you in the courts in England for- the crime.’ As he talked, Rod had closed with him and pulled the gun out of his hand. “Go ahead. I won’t fight about it,” said Higginson. They took him at his word, stripped him to the skin, cut into the heels of his shoes and found—nothing. Disheartened, they motioned to Higgin- son to dress, which he proceeded to do in silence and with great rapidity. His face wore a sneer of triumph. He took up his money, some six hundred dollars in cash, a book of traveler’s checks and a letter of credit, his watch and some loose papers, all of which they had laid upon the lower berth. He regarded his shoes, from which the heels had been pried, with perplexity. ‘We'll get you a new pair of shoes, of course,”’ proffered Howard. “You won’t be able to get anything, where you are going to be,” declared Hig- ginson, quietly, but with conviction. “ T’ll walk on the toes of these until I get to my stateroom and change. Then I’m go- ing to wake up the captain and have you two burglars. put in whatever corresponds to a dungeon on this ship.” until the ship gets to port. I hope you'll like it.” “Tf you don’t mind, I’ll keep your gun,” : said Rod, “‘ until we get what you are go- ing to have done to us.” “ Suit yourselves. So you thought I was a crook, did you? now.” ““T thought you were a crook, and now ie “And I don’t I know it,” declared Rod. worry about what you are going to do.” “You'd better worry,” snarled Higgin- . << ve. son, his hand on the stateroom door. half a mind—” “What?” demanded Rod, stepping close. to him, just as it appeared as if he were. going to return into the stateroom. Higginson went outside into the alleyway. “You'll find out in about fifteen minutes. You poor bone-headed school detectives.” Moving like a ballet dancer, on the toes. of his heel-less shoes, he minced away. The pair he left behind him looked at each other with expressions that can be imagined. “I told you what was going to happen,” ‘“ Now we're going to be locked up in the brig and turned over to the. police. That fellow was mad and he means - wailed Howard. business.” “T felt sure he must have the stuff on him,” sighed Rod. bone. all right.” “‘ What’s going to happen to us? That’s 3 what I want to know.” “That man is a crook, all right,” de-— clared Rod. ‘‘ The fact that he had a gun on board a peaceable passenger Ship proves I hope you know better > ‘““We pulled a fine correspondence 1 ‘ Sta ay 4 1] Os, EG + RoR ue WA te A A, Wipe en i, "ae Mend 4 " ti ‘ : Boral ta ‘ “an My a a he ey AA "I PP a | _ 4 PS] Poy ee : 29 s RA ie { £ A A ye be ot +. aL ft f te wa Lictavnecs 14ne Sis fete Mya iy =; i BY: fo) t ¥ ed a ¥ » Wie a) we ee he ‘ee ert hia 4 ¢ ay : rp) that. And he was ready to shoot. What = made him change his mind unless he knew that what I told him about being investi- = gated and shown up if he fired was what would surely happen?”’ eae “ All right. He’s a crook, but we held him up and went through him and that makes us criminals. He can claim we = robbed him, too.” | . 8 i <S;€OM Eomicboo