Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

102 “Now these three murderers. I brought back with me—should have left them stranded upriver with the rest of the crew who wouldn’t come back. Tried my best to get ’em all. “And this is what I got, the three bloodthirstiest crimps this side of Shanghai. Done my best. You see that. And what do [ get for it? TU get hanged if I stay on board, that’s certain. But it was worth it—only if I could square myself with you—” There was not a tremor on her lips. It was as if she were not listening to this outlandish yarn. It was more as if she were watching him, like a deaf person who tries to read the purport of the words from the movement of the speaker’s lips. His voice meant nothing. It was the possibility of movement that she was guarding against. “Those pirates wanted. to kill your father first thing. Can you fathom that? But there’sa reason. You want to know it?” She did not answer. But he went on: “ Gold—that’s the reason. ‘They heard somewhere up- river that you’ve been singing on shore to them roistering, howling miners. They know you’ve been stowin’ away their gifts of nuggets. And they want tt He saw a vivid flash in her eyes, and he knew that he had struck a vibrant chord. The fact was, he was playing a skillful tune. “ But they won't get it. Not a nug- get. Not a grain of dust! Pll grant you that!” ‘é So back—” “ Brought them back,” he corrected. “To murder us all—” she continued in the same breath.” “ Murder you? Who’s goin’ to mur- der you? They'll try it, that forecastle scum. But what do you think I’m here for? Didn’t I come back? Ain’t [ here again to make amends for what’s hap- pened ?” that’s what brought you ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He began to wheedle. “ Why, look here; you’re holdin’ that mutiny ag’in’ me, I know. Same as your father. But who started it? Bown there forward is where it started. And I was drawn into it. On pain of death I had to go with “em. And I knew it was the best way. I’d go with ’em, that’s what I decided, and then watch my chance and bring the provisions back.” _ He caught a flash in her eye. “ You don’t believe that, eh? Well, if you look at that boat I brought back, you will see the provisions of this old hulk stowed away in her. Cross my heart, b’-George! It’s all back; I brought it to hand it to you.” He saw that this brought no re- sponse, so he hurried on excitedly. “And what happened? They get scared your father will put us all in irons, and they hop onto him. Put the irons on him first. And old Joshua they stow away in the fore hatchway. “The dirty snivelin’ whelps! Right away I sent for coals to bust the hand- cuffs. No, he’s all right. Don’t worry. He’s all right. Pll save him for you. But first I want to know where I stand. I ain’t goin’ to play into everybody’s hands, free everybody, and then get hanged for a mutineer.” The girl had returned to her sphinx- like calm, looking, waiting, watching. “Look here, do you believe me?” he whined. No answer. He whined in a more insistent nasal tone: “‘ Do you think I had anything to do with that mutiny? Me—a ship’s officer? Mixin’ in with that forecastle filth? Me—Swope. Likely idea! Damn—I blush to think of it.” He scoffed, tossing his skull-like head, his jaundiced face scowling in disgust at the thought. “ They made me get aboard one of them boats at the point of a gun, so help me God! And I went. And then what happened? I came back. That’s what.”’ At this point he was not so sure whether the girl was listening or not. Gomichbooks (E@)