Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

wie SS gt SE = ye aes “ww. ant > . . iS ons eld as = fe HAWAIIAN HEELS. | | 563 _ “Excuse me, then.” She rose and ran past the Chinese through the pas- sage and up to the deck. The Stingaree was speeding along through the water at the rate of ten or twelve knots, head- ed straight into the open sea. The enormous palas of the island lay far to the stern. Already they were miles away. Like a wild thing, frantic at being caged for the first time, Rova dashed below again. Quimby was alone where she had left him; his head sunk in his hands deeply, his body lissome, over- come apparently with shame or re- morse, “Where is Ah Long?” she demand- ed. Quimby looked up at her stolidly as if in a daze. “ That damned Chinese lied to me,” she cried. ‘‘ The yacht is going on just the same, headed straight for Maui, or somewhere. Doesn't he know my father can have him expelled from the island for this?” Quimby looked up at her, opening his hands nervelessly. ‘ Alas, Miss Rova,”’ he protested, “ your father can do noth- ing against Ah Long. All that he owes me is due Ah Long. Ah Long can stl him out in twenty-four hours.” “The thieving yellow cur!’ Quimby came partially back to his alert self. “S-sh!” He held up a hand. “ Remember you are here on his vessel. If I had realized he was here, I would not for a second have permitted you to come on board. * Believe me, I had forgotten that his blanket mortgage on all my posses- sions included the Stingaree. When I found him in the stateroom here, locked in, I was as surprised as you. Believe me, Miss Rova, I am profoundly sorry, and if you will trust me, i will see you out of this predicament.” Rova placed her hand to her brow. Her head was throbbing with a dull ache. With Lance gone, she was alone here on this small vessel, far out at sea, with Chinese and Kanakas and one white man. Snr acer: aS. ne P ars oa x ats = ——™ 3 on is Sis asdis Fe oes Pore ey Lae ee ae Sige a ee See eee AEP L ete Beek? Co Oe eee a Despite the evidence against this white man, his long friendship with her father and the color of his skin compelled her to turn to him. ‘ Oh, please, Mr. Quimby,” she said, “ help me find Lance Houston.” “He must have fallen overboard.” “No, no! I feel he is still here and that he is still alive. Come, help me.” She started toward the galley. Quimby rose as if with a weary ef- fort. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder to restrain her. Strangely his touch was not so repellent to her as it had been. “ My dear Miss Rova,” he said, “I wish you would prepare yourself for something which I know will be shocking to you.” “Oh!” she half shrieked. dead!” This brought a partly amused smile. “It is more important to you than that,’”’ Quimby insisted. There was a terrific catch in her heart. “ Nothing could be more impor- ant than that,” she half sobbed. “Where is he?” 3 “Listen to me,’’ Quimby continued evenly. “ There’s very little time for you to think, to consider what I have to tell you. We must talk quickly and quietly. “ Ah Long has returned to his cabin. He has locked himself in. He will re- main there until the Stinagree reaches Maui. There his people are waiting to receive him. He is coming to them for a ceremony. It is to be a wedding * Lance is ceremony. Do you understand, Miss Rova—a wedding ceremony?” Her mind was so filled with thoughts of Lance Houston, with concern for him, with attempts to see some way of probing the mystery of his disappear- ance, that she did not grasp the signifi- cance of what was being said. Quimby persisted. “ They believe Ah Long is coming to them with his new bride, and he has chosen as this bride a white woman, the loveliest in the is- land, of an old family. This means much to him. Much that is political, ‘comichoo! S. co! m wg ee ae SEER ERS ne Sher te