Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

WORLD BRIGANDS. was almost boyish. He was clean shaved, and there were few gray hairs in his shock of brown. His eyes were dancing and his smile was contagious. Somehow the circle of despair lost some of its depression before he spoke a word. “How much money do you fellows represent?” he demanded. “ Five bil- lions? Ten billions?’ “Nearer twenty,” replied the banker. “Could you raise a fund of fifty million dollars for an experiment that may save America a hundred bil- lions?” ‘Why, . yes,’ — said _ the “Though it is an enormous sum. would have to see various people.” “This fund must not be advertised. Its existence must not be known.” “T undertake to provide five mil- lions out of my private fortune,” said Boswell quietly. ‘I advise you gen- tlemen to give until it hurts. We can raise the money in this room, admiral.” “Tf we know what it’s for,” quali- fied Greggson. “All I can tell you is that it is for the purpose of scaring Kurope and her gang of financial conspirators out of their. wits,” said Graves. “ Mr. Mer- rick, I know the War Department has no money, but you can cloak a great experiment. You can assign army ofh- cers to work under the direction of the general and myself.” “ Anything of that sort, yes,” said Mr. Merrick. “So long as [ am not compelled to ask Congress for an ap- banker. We propriation. You know what that means.” “Subscription books are being opened. It’s a blind pool, gentlemen. You are insuring yourselves against the war and the loss of everything you possess in this world,” said the ad- miral. “Fifty millions of dollars for a bluff,” said Greggson. ‘Give me a sheet of paper,” said Mr. Boswell. ‘‘ Gentlemen, I am ab- 233 solutely convinced that within one year eastern America will be in the hands of Europe, which means ruin for all of us and catastrophe unimaginable for the United States, not forgetting the loss of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of human lives. Five million dollars, Admiral Graves.” * All [ can tell you is that this bluff will cost a terrific amount,” said the admiral. “ Who’s next?” “Five millions from me,” sighed Averill Grant. “It’s ten per cent of my fortune, and I can’t even take it off my income tax statement.” “ A year from now, unless this bluff works,” Graves replied, “ you will not have to fill out an income tax state- ment.” Twenty million dollars were sub- scribed in that room, and each of the subscribers promised to secure enough to make up the balance within a few days. “Can you give us an inkling of this alleged weapon?” asked Greggson, who had subscribed with more reluctance than the others. “When the Allied Expedition is in mid-Atlantic,” replied the admiral, “the ships of the air, of the surface, and those beneath the sea will be obliterated. Will that be satisfac- tory?” A laugh was his answer. “ At our next meeting you may have the de- tails,’ added Admiral Graves. ‘ You come with me, general, I want to talk things over with you.” 33 CHAPTER X. THE POLICE STATION SCANDAL, HE police station revel shocked London. In the distressing state of the country, with starving hordes in all the big cities, with busi- ness almost at a standstill, with labor militant, and anti-Americanism ram- pant, the party given by Dick Boswell and Roger Tuttle in a station house EOPMICLOOOKS (E@)