Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

224 right, all right! apart.” The news made Steve attempt to arise, but a patronizing glance from the visitor told him the effort was wasted. The ranch- man’s right arm and shoulder were out of commission. The forearm was-a crushed ruin. He lay back again, thoroughly discour- aged and somewhat sick, but his desperate mind caught a new idea. The vase! The pistol! Less than fifteen feet away! He started to writhe toward the dragon- table. The other man, examining a deft ivory carving, saw the move and threw a calculating look toward the door, making sure that it was closed, and Steve could hardly reach the knob without agonized effort. “Wait awhile,” We'll put you on a couch bimnieby. ain’t goin’ to kill you. Take it easy.” Steve considered a wild yell for help, but the thick windows were all shut and there were probably no passers-by on the quiet street anyhow. He decided to keep crawl- ing, writhing along silently and gained five feet before the heavy footsteps of the ex- plorers thumped up from the cellar. “Nobody here but a scared coon wom- an!” reported Big Mike disgustedly, emerging from a rear doorway. “ We’ve been upstairs and down. We’re bunked!” “ Well, how about this guy?” persisted the tall man, pointing at Steve. “‘ He knows somethin’!”’ “T dunno,” considered Big Mike. “ Sap- pose he won't talk? We can’t beat him up much more, can we?” “No; not very much, S-sh! that?” Something moved beyond the front door. A key was inserted into the lock. There was a click and then a moment of manipu- lation as the knob turned and the heavy oaken panels swung inward. The uninvited visitors looked at each other. With one impulse they scattered behind curtains or made themselves small against the front wall. One of them produced a blackjack, which seemed to be the favored weapon of the whole gang. They’ll take this dump advised the visitor. We What’s ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The door came wide open. Beth walked in. Her startled eyes Saw the battered Steve. She drew back in sur- prise. butted his head against the dragon-table and made it fall away from him. The black-blue-orange vase trembled, toppled, bounced off the falling edge, tumbled to the floor, and burst into a hundred crashing fragments. A shiny nickeled revolver came to rest amid the ruins. “Grab it!” yelled Steve. It all happened in an instant. first uncomprehending, caught his alarm and jumped for the weapon, taking it in her gloved right hand just as she saw the forms at the wall. With a little stifled cry, she pointed the pistol. Her arm trembled. There was a moment of electrical ten- sion. “Nix!” yelped the tall fellow, elevating his alarmed fists toward the ceiling. ‘“‘ Put it down! Drop it! You’re too nervous! It might go off!” “There are four of ’em,” warned Steve. “ Watch out!” She backed against the door, facing the whole room. A heavy blue portiére moved. She pointed her jiggling pistol at it. Big Mike decided to come forth, waving dis- | gusted hands. . “Stephen,” she gasped, ‘‘ who are these men? Why did they delay you?” “ Burglars,” he answered. <4 Oh! ? “You lie!” snarled Big Mike. gotta right here, see?” “What?” gasped Steve. “ What a cheap lie!” said Beth. “ Beth!” pleaded the weakening Steve. “Give me your pistol! I’ll cover them! My left hand! things!” Beth, confused and at bay, stood star- ing at the sullen quartet; and then sud- denly she bent and slipped the pistol into the hand of Steve, who was lying on his injured right side with his head near the floor. He took the weapon and held its gleaming barrel upward steadily. Big ““ We Mike’s eyes narrowed; he spoke to Beth in a hoarse voice: 4A Steve made a desperate leap. He Beth, at . They’re stealing Paula’s comicbooks. # ps ert een r Col a >, Se eS nes ad Stina aa 5 cen ee Me EO, ae ES a a Rae os io a PS a a a hs ae Be er a ee Co gL a Ee Raa TE Ie 9 AS Ie Ge xn” SM 0 Seng palin ae OEE Ng is lw ae RE com)