Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 3, 1924 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

874 thusiasm over some of the undependable fellows you pick for friends.” “Undependable, indeed. That’s a nice way for you to talk about one of your finest officers.’ Nat shook his head dismally. ‘* One of my finest officers? I wish that I could agree with you. But you’re mistaken.” Quick to leap to the defence of one whom she admired, Mary’s eyes were afire, her cheeks were aflame. ‘“What do you mean, by making insinua- tions like that, Nat Gertridge? It’s not at all chivalrous. Indeed, I think it’s perfectly nasty of you.”’ ‘Well, I wouldn’t expect you to give me a square deal,” replied Nat Gertridge with heat. ‘ Because you seem to prefer a worthless adventurer, that no one could ever count on, in preference to an old friend, who was the same yesterday and who is the same to-day.” ‘‘ Now, look here, Nat Gertridge, we may have known each other for years, but even if we have, you simply must not talk to me like that. I think I know a real man when Isee him. In order to size him up, I don’t need to have him dangling around the whole blessed time.” Nat took the last shot without a whimper, he was used to Mary’s whip-lash tongue. “T think it’s simply awful of you, Nat Gertridge, to come in here and talk that way about a brave officer, who because he . is far away at sea, faithful to your inter- ests, cannot answer you.” “Faithful to my _ interests!” Nat laughed with a querulous note. ‘ Faithful to my interests! That just shows you don’t know what you're talking about, Mary. When you get crazy about some idol, before you start to fall and worship, it’s a pity you wouldn’t pause, just to find out the facts about him, whether he’s a man, or a worthless cad. ‘ You’ve been making a fool of yourself, Mary, ever since that Richard Dunbar went aloft on the Valkyrie, to show off before you like some cheap circus actor.” ‘“‘ That’s nice talk from someone who isn’t half as strong, or half as brave. Would ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, you dare to do the simply wonderful things he does?” ‘“* Before you talk so insultingly to a true friend, Mary, it’s a pity you don’t know why he’s coming back. I suppose you’re so full of the hero stuff that it never occurred to you to ask why this wretched Dunbar has left his ship, and abandoned his duty. You are rejoiced because he’s coming back, but you don’t know why?”’ ‘Well, why is he coming?” ‘‘ Because he’s in disgrace, because he failed miserably as first officer. You’re proud of him as one who sailed on our fastest ship. Yes, the Valkyrie made a wonderful run, but it was no thanks to him, He was a failure from the start.” Mary looked as though she wer* about to interrupt, but Nat continued. “Before you go off with any more of your half.baked fancies about one of our disgraced and broken officers, just hearken. Here’s a letter from Mr. Pugsley, the present first officer of the Valkyrie. ‘That coarse, disgusting person!” ‘‘He’s a real officer, not a tissue-paper hero. Now listen to what Pugsley says.” Nat took from his pocket a letter, and read: * That fellow Dunbar has turned out to be nothing but a useless bluif, nice looking, and nice dressed, but not worth a damn mM a sea way. The minute we got into the rough stuff outside he fell down flat. Halfway across the skipper broke him, and put me in his place. ‘These dude fellers is all right for the ladies, but they ain't worth their salt aboard a clipper. As I says to the skipper, ‘That Dunbar feller was nothing but treacle, and molasses.’ He’s talking of quitting now, so I suppose by the time this letter reaches you, the mother’s darlin’ will be turning tail tor home. Well, we'll be some glad to see the last of the critter aboard the Valkyrie.” Mary was greatly troubled. She despised Pugsley from the very first occasion on which she had seen him. But then Richard had failed. This information was a stun- ning blow. Her psychic nature intimated that Richard Dunbar was not the worthless failure that Pugsley represented him. Something within told Mary that Richard Dunbar, whatever else he was, was brave, and true. Therefore she waited in faith, comniiclsoo! ©