Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

528 fore now. An instant, he turned rath- er giddy, then with a small groan he tipsoed hurriedly up the passage and opened his door. Richard was home again! | 3 And now, came suddenly to him through all his grief, was the time of all times in his life to make every min- ute count! There was always the tiny chance, you see, that the good colonel had failed to recognize him at the distance —an infinitesimal, unimportant chance, to be sure, and yet one which, when he had considered it for the tenth part of one second, sent Richard into swiftest action. One light he turned on, panting; the upper drawer came open and he thrust in his bundle; another little gasp, and his frantic fingers went inte the bundle itself. He needed pyjamas! Well, luck was with him for once, since pyjamas were the very first thing his hand touched. He snatched them out. He kicked off ties; he hurled clothes to the chair beside the bed as he tore them frenzied- ly from his suffering person. He struggled into pyjamas, switching off the light once more. Mr. Melton, as may have been suspected, was on his way to bed; indeed, he was even now abed. And, curiously enough, it appeared that he need not have hurried. The chase had not led to his room after all; for the matter of that, nobody seemed interested in the room or its occupant just now. Very faintly he caught voices, but they seemed to be down- stairs. He settled himself more comfort- ably, rumpling pillows and coverings. In growing astonishment, he waited through minute after minute of com- plete stillness, -and then: ‘Very well!” the colonel’s voice - snapped, quite near at hand. His heavy footfall was coming straight in this direction, too. Richard closed his eyes and opened his mouth, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. snoring lightly and convincingly; and his door was hurled open, and he heard: s No, the damned hound got clear, but— Lights had been turned on with a Savage snap. Grunting loudly, sleepily, Mr. Melton sat up in bed and blinked uncomprehending amazement at Colo- nel Bragg, who stood there, in bathrobe and slippers, momentarily glaring. Yet his amazement was as nothing at all beside the amazement of the colonel. That gentleman seemed ut- terly thunderstruck. He mumbled con- fused nothings and stared blankly at Richard; he even blinked at Richard; for the very first time his iron poise seemed to have deserted him. “'Why—ah, Vane,” he stammered— ““J—er—thought—” | “What's that?” Richard demanded quite crossly, and finally forced open his heavy eyes: ‘“ What’s up now, colonel? Was that shooting I heard awhile ago, or did something fall—or did I dream it?” 6é Why—” “J sleep like a rock, once I get to sleep,” Richard submitted further and yawned vastly. ‘‘I—-Lord! Pardon me! Is anything wrong, colonel? Do you need me for anything?” He stretched. There was a resigned light of almost saintly patience in the eyes which met Colonel Bragg’s. The colonel even flushed. “Um—no; no, of course not, Mr. Vane,” he said uncertainly. ‘“‘ [—er— just stopped in to see if you were all right, you know. We have been having a burglar scare.” ‘A burglar scare?” Richard echoed incredulously. ‘“Er—yes,’ said Colonel Bragg, and seemed entirely unable to get the best of the flustered state of mind that was upon him. , Mr. Vane. He got away; we found the back door open just now, but there’s no sign of him outside. It’s all over. There is—er—no cause for uneasiness.” AS rey. ieee = nicbooks.com