Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

834 An expression of real alarm passed over the chiei’s face. * No, I’m all right, chief, but I am cursed with a vivid imagination, that’s all. Thanks, I must he going. I have to cable a report to Gregory up the line vet. Thanks, again. The legend was interesting.”’ ‘* Don't confuse that infernal rot with our real legends for which I confess a sneaking admiration.” ‘Rot, perhaps,” thought MacGregor, “and again perhaps not. Some human brains get queer twists at times.” * Say, Mac, I don’t want to predict trouble, but that worthless Limpy Ford has a girl in the village. It’s the one decent thing in the fool’s life. She has disappeared and gossip has it some youth has eloped with her. If Limpy takes the trail there'll be a fine old row and Limpy will hear of it when he comes to town again.” ‘‘No robins or weasels scattered about. the lady’s home was there?” queried Mac- Gregor half in earnest. * That’s the funny part of it. There was a deatl robin.” The chief laughed. ‘Now [ll spoil it all—the cat was eating the robin. Caught it no doubt.” The chief’s chuckle was ringing in the ceputy’s ears as he hurried down the path. He was enjov- ing his little joke, but MacGregor was thinking, “Is it a joke, this unbelievable tale?” There was much real evidence in- dicating it was unpleasantly real. His cable to Gregory was brief, consider- ing the varied happenings since he left headquarters: Am investigating in If not back Mailing map Markey murdered. connection with other matters. in ten days take up my trail. of country and detailed report. He sketched a map showing the entrance to the unknown bay and surrounding region. While he still preferred to solve the mystery alone, nevertheless he had a lively apprecia- tion of the possibility of meeting the same swift end that had overtaken Jennings, Markey and others. Apparently they hadn’t had a chance. A single knife thrust and it was over. Nor did he forget that he had received the usual warning—the dead ‘robin. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. With all this in mind, he refueled the Taku took on a quantity of provisions and set forth with an eagerness that he had never felt on any other quest. Not once had he forgotten Edith Fleming’s peril. Suppose some mad native had set himself up as a god and was carrying out all the strange rites of the legend? Incredible as it seemed to MacGregor, he knew the vast- ness of Alaska and the thinly scattered population made such a thing possible. MacGregor traveled without lights that night as usual. He could avoid other craft that carried the required ones, and those that did not he had no wish to avoid. They would bear investigation. With hatches closed down tight he stood in ‘the wheel- house steering from point to point, occasion- ally sending the white finger of his search- light into hidden coves. He was overlook- ing nothing afloat these days. Shortly after midnight the Taku rocked violently as the wash of a passing craft caught her hull. MacGregor shut off his engines and listened. He could distinctly hear the high pitched rumble of a motor boat. She was either fast or large, perhaps both, for she kicked up a wave of consider- able size. MacGregor swept the horizon directly ahead, and a gray craft carrying a ‘‘ bone” in her teeth, stood out sharply in the white flood of light. Though the Taku shot ahead at full speed the marshal realized he was being left astern. The figure of a girl suddenly leaped into the glare. He saw her hesitate the barest moment at the rail, then leap into the sea. A moment later a lifebuoy with a flare was dropped. Instead of racing from the spot as MacGregor expected, the water astern was lashed in fury as the gray craft’s motors were reversed. For several moments she continued ahead with reversed engines, then a pause and she shot backward. A man with a line about his waist leaped overboard, caught the girl and the two of them were dragged aboard dripping. She had escaped and been recaptured literally under his nose. He caught a final glimpse of a furiously fighting maid as the craft once more got under way. The rifle he held in his hands was useless. He had emptied it at the pilot house of the COMIG DOO! (©