Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

10 “H-m,” said Smith dryly. “As long as your lives lasted, of course. It would do you good, son, to attend a rain cere- mony and watch the young buck’ Nagas throwing spears at a scared dog. It’s be- like that I’m oversuspicious, an’ I don’t know anything about your system of pres- ents. Maybe they’ve fixed things for you. But just take one piece of advice from me: For Pete’s sake get your camp together a bit. Pitch your tents closer, an’ stack your duffle in a ring, outside.” The young man’s suspicious hostility had given place to puzzled doubt. He seemed almost about to say something, but Smith resumed: “Now I got business to attend to at Dimapur; an’ that’s a long way from here. It’s easy seeing that nobody around here 11 miss me; so you say good-by to the folks for me, an’ tell ker how to fix your camp.” The young man of science was still plain- ly puzzled how to take the man of the jungles.. Smith’s seriousness carried con- viction. Under it the other’s hostility faded, and suddenly he held out his hand. Smith took it with a pleased grin; and the young man winced. “Well, good-by,” said Smith, and set him to wondering again by adding: ‘‘ You'll see me again.” While the other was still wondering what he might mean, he sub- joined quickly: ‘Now, one more thing. See that clump of bamboos by the big tree fern? Well, if you want to check me up at all, I'll tell you that there’s one of your ‘bodyguard ’ watching from behind it right now!” The young man looked startled at this bringing to the front of a hitherto quite indefinite and not wholly credited state of affairs. He hesitated, looking searchingly at Smith. Then his lips set purposefully and he turned and strode direct to the clump, pulling a nickel-plated revolver from its shiny yellow holster as he went and looking amateurishly to see if it was loaded. “‘ Good-by!” Smith called after him, and strode off himself at right angles, looking shrewdly over his shoulder as he went. He saw him walk forward with unfaltering reso- lution, but toying with the revolver in a THE ARGOSY. manner which to his practised eye denoted unfamiliarity and considerable nervousness. He saw, as the young man approached, a brown figure flit from behind the bamboos and dart into the deeper jungle. He saw him stop with startled hesitation and then run forward to the edge of the bamboo tope; but the lithe brown figure was swal- lowed in the undergrowth. The man of-gcience peered into the dim shadows; but he realized that it was useless to go farther. He turned and looked toward Smith. It was the patent admission of be- lief and appeal for advice. But Smith waved his hand in farewell, ducked under a vast, orchid-festooned trunk, and disap- peared himself. He plunged on through the heavy growth with a smile of satisfaction. The smile slowly spread into a grin. The hard lips parted, and Smith began to chuckle to him- ” self. “‘ Good lad!” he murmured. ‘“‘ Went right up to it nicely. Guess he’s got guts, all right.” He looked. thoughtful awhile and then chuckled again: “ An’ I got to give Poonoosawmi a bakshish; the little devil caught on in a minute and played right up to me like a bird.” Again a spell of thoughtful consideration, and then a satisfied grunt: “ Sort o’ hard test to put a raw hand to, but I guess that girl ‘ll believe a few things now an’ take an’ straighten up camp so it can’t be rushed SO easy.’ The business which Smith spoke of so glibly was no lie. He did have business— he had created it that same instant. There was other business, of course, a matter of - certain consignments of rubber to the far distant coast. But that was a matter in- volving only rupees. Rupees‘ might be dealt with at any time; but an extraordi- nary affair such as this moving-picture camp with its stage professor and its stu- dious young man and its girl—by no means could he forget the girl—was an event of the ages. So he madetit his business to have business in Dimapur. Dimapur was away up in the northerly part of the Manpur country, in the more settled part, where the chiefs came in once a year to call on the commissioner and to 1NOO COIN (-) GO)