Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

oo4 ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘I hope you'll decide to come in with us,” he said. ‘“‘ You see, we’re in a diff- cult position just now, and we need re- liable men. In fact, they’re almost worth their weight in gold to us. “England and Portugal are in dispute over the ownership of Batakaland. Eng- land’s claim-is undoubtedly the stronger. But England can’t afford to take harsh measures. So it’s going to be arbitrated by the League of Nations, and that may be a matter of years. Meanwhile, both sides have withdrawn their troops, and are pledged not to occupy the country. “That puts us in a tight box. The set- tlers don’t love us, because the company was forehanded enough to get possession of the best tracts of gold-bearing land, espe- cially the Fulania Gold-fields. We’ve had to close them down because our employees were intimidated by them. And that’s why I asked you the questions I did that day in Johannesburg. We want a man who can hold his own, who won’t allow himself to be bluffed. That’s why I tried to bluff you—to see if you would take it.” Wimborne’s shifty eyes met Dean’s for a moment. What he said might be true; but Dean had the suspicion that there was a good deal of the natural bully in him. The sound of shouting came from the street. The two men went to the window, and saw the disorderly mob streaming out of the King George, howling and hooting. But being three-parts intoxicated they had largely lost their power for mischief, and two or three mounted troopers from the bar- racks were slowly shepherding them away from the company’s headquarters. “You see, Mr. Gervaise!”’ said Wim- borne, pointing toward the crowd. ‘“ And we are only allowed a small police force. If the settlers should turn against us— what could we do? That’s why we let Eltzmann in. We had to. Now—will you call upon Mr. Eltzmann in his office here at ten o'clock to-morrow morning, and go into the matter with him?” Dean hesitated. “Ill think it over to- night,” he answered, and if I can see my way clear Mr. Eltzmann won’t be the hin- drance.” “T hope you will, old man,” answered Wimborne, patting Dean lovingly upon the shoulder; and the shifty eyes met his again and dropped once more. CHAPTER IX. SIGNED UP. EAN found a room at a hotel near by, and as the result of his reflections decided to call upon Eltzmann in the morning. He disliked the idea intensely, but he had his living to earn, and what decided him was the reflection that six months’ experi- ence at the Fulani Mines would teach him a good deal of knowledge that he would require if he was to start prospecting on his own account. Besides, six hundred pounds would materially change the finan- cial situation. When he sent in his card in the morn- ing Eltzmann received him at once. The little man seemed bubbling over with good humor. He grasped Dean’s hand and shook it up and down. Then he made his visitor take one of his choicest cigars, and lit it himself for him. “Sit down, Mr. Jarvis!”’ he exclaimed. “ Well, well, well! To think that we should meet here again! And we’re going to let by- gones be bygones, eh?” ‘“‘ T’m willing,” answered Dean, again con- scious of an odd and inexplicable sort of respect for the little rogue. He could not bring himself to mention his grievance of the blacklisting, though he was sure Eltz- mann knew all about his attempts to obtain a position. ‘““So the company’s engaged you to be manager of the Fulani Fields, eh, Mr. Jar- vis?” asked Eltzmann. ‘ Thought at the time that they were putting one over on me. T. Eltzmann ain’t caught napping that way. I tell you one thing, boy: learn to use your enemies. I’d have that maxim writ up in letters of gold all over the offices, if there was enough gold to do it. ; “Well, the company couldn’t have got a better man, and so I told Mr. Wimborne meself,” Eltzmann went on. “ Of course, it ’urt me, that stubbornness of yours about the assay, which I won’t deny, but we fixed . COMmicClbooks.Gom