Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

LO OO eee ae pe = re eee See va ee a OT Oe 436 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Not to me,” said the cockney. “Tm for it. We clean ’em out and land in Cuba.” “Hold your horses,” from Gibbons. “They have arms, of course. And the yacht crew will be there.” “No. She is going to land them and go back to New York for another bunch of guests who will succeed this crowd. I made inquiries in Nassau. Nobody there but Lovering and his guests.” “ And a lot of servants,” “ Native servants; they don’t matter. Three or four valets, and half a dozen French maids.” “This fellow Lovering is no fool. He will have machine guns on that island.”’ “So shall we. And we'll land in the dead of night and take the place by surprise.” “Undoubtedly he has a_ wireless broadcasting station.” “We'll put it out of commission first thing.” “ How about landing in Cuba?’ “ T know a safe landing place on the north shore, miles from any govern- ment patrol. I can take you to a plan- tation where we can lie low for a year. if need be. Would I suggest such a thing if it were not perfectly safe?” “You'd look out for your own skin,” said Captain Gibbons with a laugh. “ How many men do we need?” “Can you pick up a dozen you can trust?” “T can’t trust anybody. I can get a dozen tough eggs who would slit a throat as quick as they’d cut a steak, but I couldn’t depend on them after- ward.” e1¢ is my idea,” said the Spaniard softly, “that only we three succeed in reaching Cuba.” “Maroon them? ‘They’d give us away. Nobody can be marooned for very long nowadays.” “T assure you we will find a way to dispose of them after they have served their purpose. I know you two of old. We can trust one another, but not these gunmen.” “Well,” sighed Gibbons, “I never went in for wholesale murder, but I never had a chance at half a million dollars before. Are any of these dames good-looking ?” “Three of them are beautiful. It’s too bad,” said Pedro. ‘“ We have to be certain that none of the Lovering party remain alive after our departure. They will have seen us.’ “ Killing women!” exclaimed Gib- bons. “I don’t like that.” “It’s got to be done, Bill,” said the cockney. “It’s us or them.” “Watson, you have the makings of a good pirate,’ commended Pedro with an evil smile. “Iam afraid the lovely ladies will have to die, but not before— er— “Well, I suppose, if we go in for this we got to do it right,” consented Gibbons. “ There are thirty or forty men on the beach here, and a lot of them are up against it. “T can pick about ten who’ll tackle a thing like this. And I’ll be careful not to take anybody I like, since we’re going to get rid of them afterward. WI hen do you want to start: ie “ Just as soon as you're ready. You can pick up a couple of machine guns?” “Got one hidden in a house up the street. I know where there are more. Plenty of ammunition, too. You're sure these jewels ain’t false?” A “ Accept my assurance,” said Pedro! Andromo. these ladies are of great wealth.” “We're doing a favor to their heirs,’ grinned Gibbons. “I think we can get under way to-morrow night. | Pll sail alone with you and Wattie,' here, and pick up the crew on the eae side of the island. “The revenue cutter will stop me and ‘search for booze before I get out of the harbor. I'd better send the ma-' chine guns across the island to come out in the boat with the crew.” COMIC CROOKS e com ““T have seen them. And! ae “= ra Ya ete ; ee OR OR Se ey ee En Meee Se oy, “ae ta See aetine we oN oe ae, =