Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

5. Sta i = a * fr s. = - wv) > ae * : —— y ¥ * , =<" > et — J pon. oe a “ ‘e - a” aa x ae . <> *? a Pm ——y 25m ees soul” a > % u - 4 id to = i rem. * “ge he om es he “ c es oN ng > him 5 in Seger > . 3 ~ ~~) 9 - ¥ > ea - aa 7 508 Arthur, the proprietor of the store and Kitikat Key’s general factotum, said, with a leer: “ Didn’t know you was married, Mr. Amadon.” “T’m not,” said Gerald, “This young lady’s your sister, eh?”’ “This young lady is Miss Finch,” said Gerald stiffly. ‘“ And we are not related. She is my guest.” The shaggy eyebrows of Bull Mc- Arthur drew together. “Left her maw back at your house, eh?” “Her mother?” Gerald repeated. “ Sure; her maw’s along, ain’t she?” “No one’s along,” said Gerald, im- patiently. Bull McArthur blinked several times, like a lazy, dangerous fish. “ Oh,” said he, grinning again. “Look here—” Gerald began, and doubled his fist. “Don’t! a cool voice whispered in his ear, and Susan’s hand was tugging at his arm. Gerald permitted her to draw him out of the commissary and into the glare of the Florida sunlight. He was furious. “Damn his impudence!” he growled. “ Susan, did you hear him?” “ Don’t mind it, Gerald. People who live in little out-of-the-way places—” “Til beat him up!” “You'll do nothing of the kind. We're going home.” Her voice was trembling. Inwardly, Gerald fumed. He mustn’t let her see how upset he was over Bull McArthur’s insinuations. They retraced their steps along the beach. <Abruptly, without any warn- ing, Susan Finch sat down on a palm pole and buried her face in her hands. Gerald stood looking down at her. “ Susan, listen!’ he got out huskily. “T’m going back there and knock his block off. I’m going—” “No,” she whispered. ‘‘ Please don’t go back.” He seated himself beside her and placed an arm about her shoulder. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Listen, Susan; I'll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll tune up my speed boat and I'll take you over to Miami. You can put up in a hotel there with uncle until the Lottie Lee comes back. I won’t have you being sneered at, and people think- ing—” Her hands dropped. She looked at him with brimming, angry eyes. “Do you think I’m afraid of those people?” she blazed. “Do you think IV’'d run away?” “No,” Gerald answered promptly. “JT don't. I know you wouldn’t run away from anything. You’re brave. You’re wonderful!” Susan snuggled her hand into his. She was really badly shaken up by that distressing incident in the Settlement Point Commissary, but she wasn’t too badly shaken up to do some clear think- ing. She was thinking that it was a dreadful shame, indeed, that Gerald Amadon was engaged to another girl. Never in her life had she met a young man who attracted her as did Gerald Amadon. There must be something wicked about him, she supposed, or she would not feel that attraction so strongly. Girls usually fell in love the first time with men they shouldn’t fall in love with, didn’t they? There was some- thing about his eyes that frightened and fascinated her. Last night, she could have clung in his arms, it had seemed, forever. She had warited him to kiss her, to hold her even more tightly than he had; and yet she had been filled with a tremulous fear of him. It would have been nice, she reflect- ed, as Gerald pressed her hand reas- suringly, to have love come like that— on the blade of a lightning flash, as it were, with thunder rumbling all about. Yet she and Gerald were obviously not destined for each other. He was engaged to another girl. Perhaps she could win him away from this other girl! Should she try? New England = CO OILED OO s.com