Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

“Who's the girl with Spofford?”’ he asked. Aleck squinted through the smoke- laden air. “She’s a new one,” he answered. “Been here only a few days. I dunno. who she is or where she come from. Varney’d be able.to tell you.” _ “ She doesn’t belong in a joint like this,” Peter affirmed, his eyes on the table where Spofford held the girl an unwilling prisoner. “ Varney stand for rough stuff like that?” he added. Carmichael shrugged his shoulders. “Varney ll stand for most anything Spofford pulls,’ he told Peter. “ Why, it was the young squirt’s dad put up the cash to get the place started. Var- ney still owes him money. It don’t pay to get in Dutch with the Spofford tribe—in this town.” Some people derive pleasure from inflicting pain. Spofford began to pinch the girl and twist her arms, laughing at her futile efforts to break away. Peter De Quincy had seen enough; his tanned face glowed a dull red, and, like a human catapult, he left the bar. The muscular fingers of one hand eripped Spofford by the collar, snap- ping him to his feet, while the other swept the helpless girl from his grasp. _“ What the hell you butting in for?” Spofford growled thickly, in mingled surprise and resentment. . “TI got only one sort of language for a skunk like you,’ Peter rejoined. “ Here she comes, hombre!” And his fist crashed to Spofford’s jaw. The blow was irresistible, and like a pole-axed steer Spofford went down. For a moment he lay on the floor, glar- ing stupidly up at the man who had all but knocked him cold. Then with a savage exclamation he struggled to his feet, staring angrily at the curious throng that crowded about the scene of his Waterloo. “Carl! Mex!’ he cried shrilly. “What the hell are you two fellows waiting for? Get this guy!” . 5 a a aban as CL ah ye gen oe ee etme oe ie ef eg TIPLE IR eis a OP ae Pa i ey I ee i II oe tad ie Oe Oe et eA SEL OS = ee > Ce oe ao ee ee ee aT > wi aL at: te s pie he = ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Instantly the bystanders melted away from Pete, anticipating gunplay; | that is, all but two individuals. Then .it was that Peter De Quincy displayed the qualities which brought him the nickname. With a dazzling speed he acted, even before the attack- ing force was properly organized. Through the atmosphere hurtled a chair, thrown with deadly accuracy, and one of young Mr. Spofford’s aids, a swarthy man, passed out of the pic- ture with a-grunt of dismay. Nor did his comrade, Carl Davis, fare better, for young De Quincy fol- lowed with equal speed the chair he had flung, driving his good right fist deep into the pit of the Davis stomach. He, in turn, grunted dismaily—and subsided. Spofford, weaving wuncertainly on wabbling feet, observed the rout of his army. De Quincy’s back was toward him, and Spofford pulled a short-bar- reled pistol from beneath his coat-tails, leveling it full on the unconscious Peter. At such point-blank range even his unsteady aim could not miss. The girl who had been the cause of this commotion screamed sharply as she perceived this danger, flinging her- self bodily across Spofford’s arm. The gun exploded harmlessly, its bullet boring into the floor. Peter turned, noting the condition of affairs with a single swift glance. “Thanks, sister,” he said briefly; and tapped Spofford once more, where- upon the rash youth again went down, this time for the full count. * Any other candidates?’ Peter in- quired blandly, glancing around with the air of one who is willing to accom- modate. There were, it appeared, no others. | At a sudden signal from Varney the orchestra again swung briskly into life, and affairs in the dance hall -were re- sumed where interrupted, while the de- feated trio presently slipped unob- trusively away. Aleck at the bar grinned dclightedy. A ) - ee ee ee cael i ates ‘s - ete ae . = 8 Sere = — ¥ ‘. m - 4 > ~F~ 3 mm me | a , —_— ti ASA 2 x cal > = e Ps ~~